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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos hails Alex Eala's historic WTA final run

Marcos hails Alex Eala's historic WTA final run

Published Jun 29, 2025 07:23 am  |  Updated Jun 29, 2025 01:12 pm

At A Glance

  • According to the President, Eala has made the entire country proud.
President Marcos congratulated rising tennis star Alex Eala for making history as the first Filipino to reach a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 250 singles final, calling her feat a victory for the country regardless of the result.
Malacañang/AP photos
Malacañang/AP photos
“Tuloy ang laban, Alex (Keep fighting, Alex)!” Marcos wrote in a Facebook post late Saturday evening, June 28.
“We all watched you make history as the first Filipino to reach a WTA 250 singles final. That alone is already a victory for our country and for the millions of Filipinos who stand proudly behind you,” he added.
According to the President, Eala has made the entire country proud.
“Keep going, your best is yet to come,” he said.
The President’s message came after Eala fell just short of claiming her maiden WTA title, bowing to Australia’s Maya Joint, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (10), in the final of the Lexus Eastbourne International in Great Britain on June 28.
The 20-year-old Eala held four championship points in a hard-fought third set but eventually yielded to the 19-year-old Australian, who became the tournament’s youngest winner since 1981.
Despite the loss, Eala’s run made history as she became the first Filipina to reach a WTA Tour singles final—an achievement she acknowledged was bigger than herself.
“It’s a big deal for me and for my country too because it’s the first time any Filipina has done anything [like this before],” Eala said in an emotional post-match interview.
“That’s also why I’m so emotional. It’s only the first, [but] I’ll definitely work hard to do more,” she added.
Eala, a two-time Asian Games bronze medalist, will next compete in the Wimbledon Championships, where she is scheduled to make her second Grand Slam main draw appearance.
Her run in Eastbourne saw her defeat 2021 champion and Grand Slam winner Jelena Ostapenko, Russian Dayana Yastremska, and Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva on the way to the final.

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President Marcos Bongbong Marcos Alex Eala
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