Senate Committee on Sports chairman Senator Christopher “Bong” Go praised Filipino tennis champion Alexandra “Alex” Eala not only for her historic championship win at the 2026 Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., USA, but also for giving Filipinos a reason to unite.

Go said Eala’s win brought Filipinos from all walks of life together to rally behind her breakthrough victory and celebrate a defining moment for Philippine tennis, amid intense political division in the country.

“At a time when there is so much turmoil in the world and the country is deeply divided by political discord, at least for a few hours over the past several nights, Filipinos came together as one,” Go said.

“Filipinos from all walks of life watched every serve, every rally, and every match point, and every winning moment that brought many Filipinos to tears. Truly, Alex Eala makes us proud to be Filipinos again,” the senator declared.

On 5 August, Go manifested his co-sponsorship of a Senate resolution to congratulate Eala after she defeated World No. 3 and tournament top seed Jessica Pegula, 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, in the championship match. With the victory, Eala became the first Filipino to win a WTA Tour singles championship.

History milestone

“This milestone forever changed the history of Philippine tennis and further cemented her place among our nation’s greatest athletes. Every match of Alex serves as an inspiration.

Alex Eala shattered a ceiling that many believed a Filipino tennis player could never reach. She is living proof that success is earned through discipline, perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in one’s dream,” he said.

“She left the comfort of home at an early age to train abroad, dedicating countless hours to practice while making sacrifices that many people never see. Behind every championship point were years of exhausting training sessions,” Go said.