Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Noli Eala hailed the smashing performance of his niece Alex Eala who carved history at the US Open Girls Singles final as the country's first Grand Slam winner at Flushing Meadows in New York Saturday (early Sunday, Sept. 11 in Manila).

Following his appointment as the new PSC chief, Eala, a former PBA commissioner, was keen on bringing back Philippine sports to greater heights through the grassroots programs “that will further strengthen our sports initiatives.”
"The historic win of Alex is a testament to the Filipino spirit and our strength of character. It also proves that there is no shortcut to success. Alex worked long hours and days and sacrificed being away from home to pursue her dream and achieve this milestone in her career. She has proven that the Filipino can be at par with anyone if given a genuine pathway for success. Truly a proud moment for the country,” said Eala in a Facebook post.
The 17-year-old tennis standout improved her junior ranking to No. 167 from 290 after the historic win against second seed Lucie Havlickova of Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4.
It was a moment waiting to happen for the younger Eala who claimed her first two titles in the Girls Doubles at the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open.
Now with an impressive tennis resume of three Grand Slam titles, the Rafael Nadal Academy scholar should come as a player to watch out for in future tilts. (Nikole Javier)