Alex Eala moved one win away from a historic SEA Games gold medal after dismantling host country contender Thasasporn Naklo, 6-1, 6-4, to book a place in the women’s singles final at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on Tuesday.
Playing with poise and authority at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, the Philippines’ top-seeded player and current WTA World No. 52 controlled the match from the opening game, silencing the partisan crowd with crisp baseline hitting and relentless pressure. Eala wasted little time asserting herself, racing to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before closing it out, 6-1, in emphatic fashion.
Naklo attempted to mount a response in the second set, briefly disrupting Eala’s rhythm and trimming the deficit early. But the Filipina star showed maturity beyond her years, quickly regrouping and reestablishing control with precise shot selection and calm court coverage. Eala pulled away for a 4-1 advantage, fended off resistance from the Thai crowd favorite, and sealed the victory at 6-4.
The win sends Eala into the gold medal round against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, who earlier advanced to the final after Indonesia’s Janice Tjen retired due to breathing issues. With her semifinal triumph, Eala is now assured of at least a silver medal, adding to her already guaranteed bronze before the match.
Eala entered the semifinals brimming with confidence after dispatching Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong, 6-3, 6-1, in the quarterfinals. That win showcased her resilience, as she recovered from an early deficit in the first set and reeled off five straight games to seize momentum—a composure that carried over into her dominant showing against Naklo.
Throughout the semifinal, Filipino fans made their presence felt, chanting encouragement as Eala dictated play. The 19-year-old acknowledged that support earlier in the tournament, saying she drew energy from the crowd and appreciated the growing number of supporters rallying behind her SEA Games campaign.
Now standing on the brink of gold, Eala carries not only her own ambitions but the hopes of Philippine tennis into the final. Against another home-cet challenger, she will look to cap her SEA Games run with a defining victory and further cement her rise as one of the country’s brightest sporting stars.