President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night to express support for rising tennis star Alex Eala, who is set to make history as the first Filipino to compete in the prestigious Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour Finals.
“Can’t wait to watch @alexeala make history in the Philippines’ first-ever WTA Finals,” the President said in his post.
“We’re already so proud, Alex. Just play your game and enjoy every moment. The whole Philippines is behind you. LABAN!”
Filipinos have also rallied behind the 19-year-old as she prepares to face the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis players.
Eala’s qualification for the WTA Finals marks a watershed moment for Philippine tennis, bringing new attention to the sport in a country where basketball and boxing have long dominated.
The young athlete has steadily climbed the global rankings with a string of impressive performances this season, establishing herself as a trailblazer for the next generation of Filipino tennis players. Her WTA Finals debut is set to take place later this week.