MANILA, Philippines – Filipino tennis player Alex Eala captured the Philippines’ first Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal in women’s singles tennis on Thursday, defeating Thai favorite Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.
Eala dominated the first set with aggressive play, breaking Sawangkaew’s serve multiple times, and maintained control in the second set to secure a convincing victory. The win capped an undefeated run through the tournament, highlighting Eala’s consistency and poise under pressure.
Speaking after the match, Eala expressed pride in representing the Philippines and credited her coaching team for helping manage expectations and strategy throughout the competition. Her performance reinforces the country’s presence in regional tennis and adds another milestone to her growing list of international achievements.