Alex Eala’s win over world No. 3 Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon Championships is more than just a mere check off her bucket list.

Yes, it put an extra P24 million in her pocket.

Yes, it jacked up her WTA ranking.

And yes, it etched her name in the record books as one of the greatest Filipino tennis players.

But what made the victory truly special was the fact that even in just one fleeting moment, the Filipinos all over the world were united, celebrating the triumph of this 21-year-old girl who grew up playing tennis with her brother and grandfather with “ruffled socks, light-up shoes and chubby cheeks.”

Eala’s victory came at a perfect time.

Prior to that life-altering Saturday evening, the Filipinos were deeply divided with the Iglesia Ni Cristo holding a series of surprise rallies, the tragic deaths of Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili and the painful double-overtime setback of Gilas Pilipinas against New Zealand in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Just yesterday, controversy again hogged the headlines as Senator Rodante Marcoleta was arrested on plunder charges while the Senate finally convened to tackle the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Truly, this battered country needed a breather. The Filipinos needed some good news to somehow forget the heartbreaking chain of events on the national front.

Then came Eala.

Wielding a tennis racket and playing as if her life and everything she has were on the line, Eala smashed, ran and even dove her way to a nail-biting victory, much to the pride and delight of the countless Filipinos — tennis fans or not — around the world.

She didn’t stun some random journeywoman. The player she defeated was the reigning champion — the same person who shook her hand on stage as guest of honor during her graduation at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain three years ago.

Yet, when the smoke of the battle finally cleared, Eala didn’t gloat. In fact, she remained remarkably humble, saying that the massive win may not mean much to a heavyweight like Swiatek, but for her, it means a lot. And for somebody who grew up playing the sport in a country like the Philippines, winning over a five-time Grand Slam champion like Swiatek on a stage as grand as the Centre Court is something she will proudly pass down to the next generation of tennis stars.

Truly, Eala defines the resilience and grit of every Filipino.

She personifies what the world-famous Filipino fighting spirit is all about: standing up and fighting hard no matter how great, no matter how imposing the odds stacked against them are.

Her victory was not just a proud moment for her countrymen in the Philippines, but for all Filipinos around the world — from the domestic helpers in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong to the medical personnel in the United States, Great Britain and Canada, and the engineers in Kuwait, Qatar and Libya.

But more than that, it united this nation that is deeply divided by creed, religion, social status and politics.

Yes, Eala still has a mountain to climb as she is facing Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the Round of 16 at press time for a win that will sustain her date with tennis history.

But regardless of the result, Eala is already victorious. The fact that she had successfully rallied this nation with one unforgettable victory on a magical Saturday evening is already a mission accomplished.

So, thank you, Alex.

Thank you for healing the soul of this nation and for making us feel proud to be Filipinos once more. Remember: this victory is not just an ordinary check off your bucket list. This means a lot to you, me and all Filipinos around the world.