Philippine tennis star Alexandra Eala has shared an Instagram reel capturing her enthusiasm and national pride as she gets ready to compete at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. The rising tennis sensation’s post reflects both her personal journey as an elite athlete and her role as an ambassador for her country at one of Asia’s premier sporting events.
Alexandra Eala Arrives in Thailand for Southeast Asian Games
Eala, along with the volleyball player Bryan Bagunas, has been selected as the flag bearer for the Philippine delegation at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. The 20-year-old tennis star was chosen by the Philippine Olympic Committee, reflecting her historic rise in professional tennis and her impact on Philippine sports globally.
The caption of her Instagram reel, “Let the games begin,” reflects her excitement about competing at the event, which runs from December 9 to 20, 2025. 11 countries, namely, hosts Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Brunei Darussalam, and Timor-Leste, will be participating in the event.
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Eala’s post perfectly captures the significance of this moment. The video shows her first on a tennis court during the day, then transitions to an evening scene at Rajamangala National Stadium, where the event commenced. She proudly waves the Philippine flag while standing with her teammates in national uniform, representing her culture.
Eala’s Breakthrough 2025 Season and the Road Ahead
Eala started 2025 ranked 147th in the world, reached a career-high ranking of 50, and finished at No. 52, becoming the first Filipino player to break into the top 50 WTA rankings. She compiled 40 wins and 26 losses while earning over $900,000 in prize money.
Her biggest moment came at the Miami Open, where she defeated Grand Slam champions including Iga Świątek, Madison Keys, and Jelena Ostapenko before losing in the semifinals to Jessica Pegula. This achievement made her the first Filipino to reach a WTA 1000 event semifinal.
In June, Eala reached her first WTA final at the Eastbourne Open on grass, narrowly losing to Maya Joint. Then in September, she won her first professional title at the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open, defeating Panna Udvardy to become the first Filipino woman to win a professional tennis title at that level.
During the off-season, Eala trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, where she practiced with retired tennis legend Rafael Nadal. The former champion expressed happiness at spending 45 minutes hitting with the rising Filipino star. Eala is training for the upcoming 2026 season, aiming to build on the momentum she achieved this year, with the help of the Spaniard and her coaching team.