By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) screening committee will be awarding Alex Eala as Ms. Tennis of the country in their upcoming Awards Night to be held at the Diamond Hotel in Ermita, Manila.
After a terrific professional tennis campaign and Asian Games tilt last year, the 18-year-old Filipina sensation became the clear favorite as the recipient of the award.
Fresh off winning two International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit championship titles and a twin bronze outing in the Asian Games, Eala will be receiving her award together with 130-plus athletes who will also be recognized for their achievements in sports.
Currently ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as the world’s no. 187 female tennis player, Eala already made her mark in the professional scene after pulling off a series of huge wins overseas.
Before clinching the recognition, Eala was also awarded by Globe last October 2023 for her efforts in the Philippine national tennis team at the Asian Games.
Eala scored a double bronze win in her Asiad debut ending the country’s nearly two-decade tennis medal drought in women’s singles. She then clinched another bronze with Francis Casey Alcantara in the mixed doubles event.
Her wins mark the first time the Philippines won two medals in tennis in the Asian Games since 2006, when Filipino American Cecil Mamiit won two medals in the men’s singles and doubles.
She clinched the 2022 grand slam singles championship at the US Open Juniors, and has so far won four pro titles in the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the 2021 French Open Girls’ Doubles tournament, and the Australian Open Girls’ Doubles in 2020.
Apart from these, Eala won three bronze medals in the singles, women’s team play and doubles events in her Southeast Asian Games debut last year.
Congratulations, Alex!
