Fresh off the best year of her young career, Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala is now eyeing the one thing that has eluded her so far—a gold medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. The 20-year-old, who just wrapped up her 2025 WTA season in Hong Kong, is determined to bring home top honors when the biennial regional meet kicks off this December in Thailand.
“The SEA Games are definitely part of my plans,” Eala said after bowing out of the Hong Kong Open round of 16 against Canada’s Victoria Mboko. “Representing the country will always be a priority, and I’m preparing to give my best.”
Eala’s journey from teenage prodigy to global contender has been nothing short of remarkable. When she last joined the SEA Games in 2022, she was just 17 and ranked outside the world’s top 350. She still managed to bag three bronze medals—one each in singles, mixed doubles, and team play. A year later, she repeated the feat at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
This time, she arrives as a completely different player. Now ranked No. 51 in the WTA live standings—her career-best—Eala has proven she can stand toe-to-toe with the world’s best. Her 2025 campaign saw her reach the semifinals of the prestigious Miami Open, where she stunned Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Jelena Ostapenko. She later became the first Filipino to reach a WTA final at Eastbourne and made national history once again by winning a main draw match at the US Open.
Capping off her breakthrough year, Eala captured her first-ever WTA title in Guadalajara, Mexico, rallying from a set down to defeat Hungary’s Panna Udvardy. The victory cemented her as one of Asia’s fastest-rising stars and a legitimate contender on the world stage.
Reflecting on her climb, Eala shared, “My goal this year was to break into the top 100, and we surpassed that by a mile. I’m so grateful for how far we’ve come, and I’m excited for what’s next.”
While her participation in the Thailand SEA Games isn’t yet set in stone, all signs point toward her inclusion in the Philippine lineup. For Eala, it’s more than just another tournament—it’s a chance to complete the story she began as a teenager in Hanoi and finally bring home the gold for Philippine tennis.
“I’m confident in the plan my team has for me,” she said. “We’ll prepare the right way. I’ll give everything I’ve got—for myself, and for the flag I represent.”
