Alex Eala to suit up for PHL team in the upcoming SEA Games

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Alex Eala is good to go.

On Nov. 2, 2025, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), one of Eala’s major sponsors, announced that the 20-year-old stalwart will represent the Philippine national tennis team in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) to be held in Thailand.

“Alex Eala is ready to make more waves in the SEA Games,” BPI posted on its official Facebook account.

“Fueled by pride, purpose, and the Filipino spirit. Keep making waves, Alex, we’re all behind you.”

Currently the world’s No. 51 WTA player, Eala will be settling some unfinished business and will have her sights on the elusive gold medal in the biennial sporting event.

Three years ago, Eala made her SEA Games debut in Hanoi, where she won a hat trick of bronze medals in singles, mixed doubles, and team event categories.

Eala is coming off her most dominant WTA year since turning professional, highlighted by historic wins at the French Open, US Open, and the most memorable one at the Miami Open.

Last May, Eala made history on clay after becoming the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam main-draw match in the doubles event.

Together with her Mexican partner Renata Zarazua, the duo defeated Britain’s Emily Appleton and Spain’s Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers 7-5, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the women’s doubles tournament.

Eala also made noise in the US Open, where she became the first Filipina to win a match in a Grand Slam singles event since the Open Era was introduced.

On Aug. 25, Eala pulled off a massive comeback after clawing her way from a 1-5 deficit in the third set to shock Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11).

Eala wrapped up her US Open stint in the following round after a straight-sets loss to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, but just like her French Open campaign, she left an everlasting impact on millions of tennis fans around the world.

Her most notable achievement was in Miami, where she took down three former Grand Slam queens: Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko, and Madison Keys.

“It’s hard to realize that you won the match,” Eala said.

“I don’t think I’ve had the time to process everything that’s happened, so I’m taking it step by step and just focusing on what I need to do next. It’s a big thing to take in, and I’m so super proud of what I was able to accomplish, but it definitely fuels me more.”

Let’s go, Alex! One last ride before the year ends for Team PHL!