Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra Eala secured her first-ever SEA Games gold medal after delivering a dominant performance to defeat Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the women’s singles final.
Alexandra Eala (C) and her parents after the tennis gold medal win at the 33rd SEA Games on Dec. 18, 2025. Photo by Instagram/@alex.eala |
Competing at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, the 20-year-old lived up to her status as the tournament favorite.
Based on her excellent form in 2025, many believed Eala would easily defeat her opponent. And she delivered.
She overwhelmed the host nation’s representative in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 to win 2-0, completing a dominant campaign that confirmed her standing as Southeast Asia’s premier tennis talent.
The victory on Thursday caps a stellar 2025 season for Eala. Earlier this year, she reached a career-high world ranking of number 50 in November, making her the highest-ranked Filipino in tour history. She also established herself as a formidable presence on the WTA tour with notable performances, from the Miami Open to SEA Games.
Eala first made waves as a 16-year-old prodigy at the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam in 2022, where she had to settle for a bronze medal.
Besides her immense talent, Eala is also known as an outstanding student of the Rafa Nadal Academy. She also shares a similar playing style with the legendary Rafael Nadal, playing left-handed and possessing powerful strikes.
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