Alex Eala advances to SEA Games tennis gold medal match

NONTHABURI, Thailand — Alex Eala is one win away from securing her first Southeast Asian Games gold medal after overpowering Thai hometown favorite Thasaporn Naklo, 6-1, 6-4, in the women’s singles semifinal on Tuesday at the National Tennis Development Center.

The 20-year-old world No. 53 from the Philippines will face Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the final on Thursday, marking her first-ever appearance in a SEA Games championship match. Sawangkaew, ranked No. 137 in the world, advanced after Indonesia’s Janice Tjen—world No. 54—retired due to breathing difficulties in their semifinal clash.

Eala, who earned three bronze medals during her SEA Games debut in 2022, is now eyeing the Philippines’ first women’s singles gold in the biennial meet since Maricris Fernandez-Gentz’s triumph in 1999.

“I think her opponent is a very experienced player. I think Alex definitely handled the center court very well. She had some resistance, especially in the second set,” said Philippine women’s team head coach Denise Dy.

“I thought the Thai player, Naklo, did a very good job battling and trying to compete back. I think that’s also what makes Alex great. She was able to not only respond very well, but close it out, which I think was very important for her,” Dy added.

Eala was dominant from the outset, racing to a 3-0 lead before Naklo managed to hold serve in the fourth game. The Filipina closed the first set in commanding fashion, winning the next three games—including a 40-15 finish off a Naklo error in the seventh game.

The second set saw Naklo respond strongly, winning the first two games and briefly rattling Eala with a clean 40-0 hold. But the Filipina rebounded swiftly, exploiting Naklo’s miscues to win the next three games and swing the momentum back in her favor.

A long seventh game proved crucial. Naklo committed a key unforced error that allowed Eala to pull ahead, 4-3. The Thai held serve in the ninth game to narrow the gap to 5-4, but Eala sealed the win with a powerful finish—building a 40-15 lead before Naklo’s final attack error sent the Filipina into the gold medal round.

The semifinal victory followed Eala’s quarterfinal win on Monday, where she beat Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong, 6-3, 6-1.

Eala is also in contention in the mixed doubles category, where she will reunite with partner Nino Alcantara for a semifinal match on Wednesday.

The gold medal match in women’s singles will be held Thursday in Nonthaburi. A victory would not only cap Eala’s rise in the SEA Games but also break a 26-year title drought for the Philippines in the event.