WTA’s rising star, Alexandra Eala, has recently achieved a significant feat after clinching a gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in women’s singles, after which she shared a beautiful moment with her parents.
This notable feat becomes even more special as Eala is the first player from the Philippines to take home the gold in 26 years, following the triumphs of Pia Tamayo in 1981 and Maricris Fernandez in 1999.
Alex Eala Creates History by Winning Gold Medal at 2025 SEA Games
The 20-year-old, who graduated from the Spanish legend Rafael Nadal’s Academy in 2023, has achieved a historic feat after defeating Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the gold-medal-winning match in Bangkok, with a concluding score of 6-1, 6-2 at the 33rd edition of the Southeast Asian Games, which are being held in Thailand’s Bangkok and Chonburi, the host cities, from Dec. 9 to 20, 2025.
After winning the match, Eala shared a heartwarming moment with her parents, Mike Eala and Rizza Maniego-Eala, as she embraced them in celebration of her notable victory for her country.
Alex Eala hugging her parents after becoming the first Filipina to win a Gold Medal in tennis at the SEA Games in 26 years.
A heartfelt moment with the ones who believed in her before anyone else did.
Priceless. 🥹
🇵🇭❤️
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 18, 2025
Through the recent X post of The Tennis Letter captured the admirable moment and wrote, “Alex Eala hugging her parents after becoming the first Filipina to win a Gold Medal in tennis at the SEA Games in 26 years. A heartfelt moment with the ones who believed in her before anyone else did. Priceless. 🥺 🇵🇭 ♥️”
In her interview with the Olympics, the current World No. 53 in WTA rankings, who has won multiple medals at SEA Games and bronze medals at the 2025 SEA Games, shared her happiness for the victory, saying, “I’m so over the moon. To be able to bring this sort of pride to my country is something I’ve only dreamt about.”
She continued, “It was just so surreal. Just the experience of being with this team, I think we had such a good dynamic, that they really made the experience special.”
Considering her family, Eala’s mother was a bronze medallist from the 1985 Southeast Asian Games in the 100-metre backstroke. Apart from her mother having a sports background, she is also the niece of Noli Eala, the former chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission. He also served as a commissioner to the Philippine Basketball Association and is now a notable media personality and a former lawyer.
