Nation hails Eala’s historic win

The Philippines erupted in celebration Tuesday after Alexandra “Alex” Eala became the country’s, and Southeast Asia’s, first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles champion, completing a fairy tale run at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C. with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over world No. 3 Jessica Pegula.

The 21-year-old left-hander capped one of the greatest weeks in Philippine sports by defeating an elite field that included Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, defending champion Leylah Fernandez, second seed Elina Svitolina, former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, and finally top seed Pegula.

Ranked No. 28 entering the tournament, Eala rose to a career-high No. 20 in the world.

“Just pure happiness,” Eala said after claiming the biggest title of her career.

“Winning a WTA 500, it’s insane. It’s an incredible milestone for me.”

The victory sparked an outpouring of congratulations from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., lawmakers and sports officials, all hailing Eala for writing Philippine tennis history.

“Alex Eala does it again. The Philippines now has its first WTA 500 champion,” Marcos wrote on Facebook.

“Congratulations on yet another historic achievement. You continue to redefine what is possible for Philippine tennis and inspire countless young Filipinos to dream without limits.”

The President said the nation shared in Eala’s triumph, adding, “The Filipino people celebrate this new achievement with you.”

At a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said she did not know if Marcos watched the entire match, joking that the President considers himself a “jinx” whenever he watches Eala play.

In the Senate, Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito filed Senate Resolution No. 562 honoring Eala’s breakthrough, saying she had brought “immense honor” to the country and proved that Filipino talent can stand toe-to-toe with the world’s best. Mark Villar and Erwin Tulfo were among 11 senators who also filed similar resolutions while Lito Lapid issued a congratulatory message.

Before the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, presiding officer Chiz Escudero hailed Eala’s groundbreaking victory.

In the House, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco filed House Resolution No. 1285, saying that Eala “did not just win a championship — she changed what is possible for Filipino athletes.”

Tiangco said the best tribute to Eala would be greater investments in grassroots sports, quality coaching, training facilities, and international exposure so more young Filipinos can follow the path she has forged.

Eala’s title run was made even more remarkable by the conditions. The championship match stretched nearly 24 hours because of repeated rain delays after Pegula had taken the opening set on Monday.

When play resumed Tuesday, Eala completely turned the match around, winning the last nine games and surrendering only eight points in the deciding set.

“It was a very steep hill,” Eala said of her tournament draw.

“The competition was super strong, and I’m really proud because I encountered my fair share of obstacles this week.”

Both Eala and Pegula now head to Toronto for the National Bank Open, with Eala arriving as one of the hottest players on the WTA Tour — and carrying the hopes of a nation celebrating a historic sporting breakthrough.