Alex Eala’s historic WTA Tour win sparks tennis fever in the Philippines
Alex Eala, a 21-year-old tennis player from the Philippines, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player from her country to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour-level singles title. Her victory in Washington DC has ignited widespread enthusiasm for tennis across the nation, drawing commendation from the president and inspiring many to engage with the sport.
Eala’s win in Washington DC was particularly notable as she defeated top-ranked player Jessica Pegula. The final match was extended over two days due to rain delays, with Eala coming from behind to secure the title. Pegula acknowledged the significant support from Filipino fans, noting their role in growing tennis globally.
The match was suspended on Sunday night with Pegula leading 6-4, 1-2. Eala, however, gained control from being 6-4, 4-3 down, ultimately winning the last nine games, including a 6-0 third set where she conceded only eight points. Eala described the rain delays as “a crazy 24 hours” and the highest-stakes such interruption in her career.
National acclaim and growing interest
Following her victory, Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos congratulated Eala on social media, highlighting her continued redefinition of possibilities for Philippine tennis and her inspiration to young Filipinos. Signs at the stadium during the match reflected national pride, with one reading: “Alex you make us proud to be Filipino”.
This recent triumph follows Eala’s notable performance at Wimbledon in July, where she advanced further than any Filipino woman at a Grand Slam championship. During that tournament, she upset defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets on Centre Court. Upon her return home, Eala received a hero’s welcome, including a reception hosted by President Marcos at Malacanang Palace in Manila.
The country, which historically focused on basketball, billiards, and boxing, is now captivated by tennis. Eala’s success has led to a surge in interest, with tennis classes, camps, and courts becoming fully booked. This increased demand has prompted clubs to upgrade older facilities and has bolstered support for the national tennis federation. Eala herself noted the difficulty in securing courts in Manila, contrasting it with the empty courts she remembered from her youth.
Manny Pacquiao, a boxing champion and prominent national sporting figure, applauded Eala as “our new champion” on social media, praising her comeback in Washington as a display of the “Filipino heart.” Mark Ein, Washington’s tournament director, observed an unprecedented level of interest in Eala, with ticketing requests largely focused on her match schedule.
Impact and future prospects
Eala’s path to the Washington DC final involved overcoming a challenging draw. She defeated several seeded players, including No. 2 seed Elina Svitolina, No. 7 seed Leylah Fernandez, and 2024 Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Her victories against Svitolina and Pegula bring her total Top 10 wins this season to seven, placing her alongside Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina in this regard. She is also projected to enter the Top 20 in the PIF WTA Rankings for the first time.
Despite coming from a prominent family, Eala began her tennis journey on painted-over basketball courts in Quezon City before moving to Spain at the age of 13 to attend the Rafa Nadal Academy on a scholarship. She is now inspiring young Filipinos from diverse backgrounds to pursue tennis, though she has emphasized the need for improved access to public courts, equipment, and better maintenance of existing facilities.
Eala expressed her gratitude for being able to share her triumphs with her country, stating, “As we say, tagumpay nating lahat (this is our victory).”
She reflected on the challenges of the tournament, acknowledging the strong competition and tough draw. Eala noted that she ended the tournament in better form than she started, continuously improving and learning about herself with each match. This experience has given her significant confidence, affirming the effectiveness of her off-court training and its application in matches.
Eala’s breakthrough in Washington DC marks a significant moment for Philippine tennis, with the country now having a champion on the WTA Tour.
Source: theguardian.com
