Lance Joseph Martinez

Alex Eala Ends 26-Year Gold Drought, Delivers Historic SEA Games Triumph for Philippine Tennis

Article (news)

<p>Indeed, she truly is the golden girl of Philippine sports!</p><p>Another milestone has been added to <strong>Alex Eala’s</strong> growing list of achievements as the Filipino tennis ace once again delivered golden glory for the <strong>Philippines</strong> at the <strong>2025 Southeast Asian Games</strong> in Thailand.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766038726310597376742_1370935691748350_2780277178989167947_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from POC Media Pool via ABS-CBN News</span></span></span> </div><p>Eala captured the <strong>women’s singles gold medal </strong>after overpowering home crowd favorite <strong>Mananchaya Sawangkaew</strong> in straight sets, 6–1, 6–2, marking a historic moment for Philippine tennis.</p><p>With the victory, Eala ended a 26-year gold medal drought in women’s singles tennis at the SEA Games, a title last won by <strong>Maricris Fernandez</strong> in 1999. She also became the first Filipina to reach the gold medal match since<strong> Clarice Patrimonio’s</strong> silver-medal finish at the <strong>2017 SEA Games</strong> in Kuala Lumpur, further cementing her place in the country’s sporting history.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766038744771598983798_1370935471748372_6034634689823762735_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from POC Media Pool via ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766038759749597900490_1370935455081707_2662762012675110545_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from POC Media Pool via ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Ranked world No. 53, Eala showed composure and grit despite an early scare, recovering from a 0–40 deficit in the opening game before asserting her dominance in the first set. Although world No. 137 Mananchaya attempted a comeback, Eala cruised to a 6–1 opening-set win. The Thai bet briefly threatened in the second set by leveling the score at 2–2, but Eala quickly shut the door, winning the remaining games with authority to seal the match.</p><p>The gold medal is Eala’s sixth SEA Games medal overall and her third in the 33rd edition in Bangkok, having earlier claimed bronze medals in the women’s team and mixed doubles events.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766038775747598696125_1370935601748359_3003425499244076504_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from POC Media Pool via ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>This latest triumph comes just months after another career-defining feat, when Eala captured the country’s first-ever <strong>WTA</strong> title. She staged a remarkable comeback to defeat <strong>Hungary’s Panna Udvardy,</strong> 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, to win the <strong>WTA 125</strong> title at the <strong>2025 Guadalajara 125 Open</strong> in September.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related: List: </strong><a href="https://metro.style/people/2025/9/8/list-alex-eala-s-historic-milestones-in-tennis-so-far-1230"><strong>Alex Eala’s Historic Milestones in Tennis So Far</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>As of December 18 at 9 AM, according to the <strong>Philippine Sports Commission</strong>, the Philippines currently ranks sixth overall in the SEA Games medal standings, with a total of <strong>213 medals</strong>—38 gold, 55 silver, and 120 bronze. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766038825930600449620_1303918465104694_2111525345914483498_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from Philippine Sports Commission</span></span></span></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>POC Media Pool</strong> via <strong>ABS-CBN News</strong><strong></strong><br/></p>