Filipina tennis star Alex Eala experienced a day of contrasting fortunes at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Nonthaburi, Thailand, securing a historic singles final berth before settling for a bronze medal in mixed doubles.
Dominant Path to the Singles Final
On Tuesday, December 16, the world No. 52 displayed her class by defeating Thai opponent Thasaporn Naklo in the women's singles semifinals. The match concluded with a score of 6-1, 6-4, propelling Eala into the gold medal match.
While the first set was a commanding display, the second presented a significant challenge. Naklo fought back fiercely, using a strong service game to seize an early 2-0 lead. Bolstered by vocal Filipino support in the stands, Eala regained her composure in a tense battle, eventually securing a crucial 5-3 advantage. She closed out the match on her serve in the tenth game, guaranteeing the Philippines at least a silver medal.
A Chance to End a 26-Year Gold Drought
This victory sets up a monumental final clash on Thursday, December 18. The 20-year-old phenom will face another local favorite, Thailand's Manachaya Sawangkaew. A win would be monumental for Philippine tennis, marking the country's first gold medal in SEA Games women's singles since 1999, when Maricris Fernandez-Gentz triumphed before Eala was born.
Women's team head coach Denise Dy, a two-time SEA Games gold medalist herself, praised Eala's resilience. "I think her opponent is a very experienced player. Alex definitely handled the center court very well," Dy stated. "She had some resistance, especially in the second set... She was able to not only respond very well, but close it out, which was very important for her."
Bittersweet Bronze in Mixed Doubles
The elation from Tuesday was tempered on Wednesday, December 17, as Eala and partner Francis Casey "Niño" Alcantara fell in the mixed doubles semifinals. The second-seeded Filipino duo engaged in a marathon battle against the Thai pair of Sornlaksup and Cheapchandej, ultimately losing 7-5, 5-7, 7-10.
Despite a strong start, the hosts leveraged their power game and the roaring home crowd support to mount a comeback. The loss secured a bronze medal for the Philippine pair. A visibly disappointed Eala acknowledged the Thai team's superior performance on the day, remaining gracious in defeat.
This mixed doubles bronze adds to the Philippines' tennis haul, which also includes third-place finishes in both the men's and women's team events. All eyes now turn to Thursday's final, where Alex Eala carries the nation's hopes of a golden breakthrough in singles tennis.
