CHONBURI, Thailand – Alex Eala claimed another piece of history before her stellar 2025 ended.

Eala captured her first-ever Southeast Asian Games gold medal after reigning in the women’s singles following a 6-2, 6-1 win over Thai foe Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the final at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi on Thursday, December 18.

Living up to her billing as the highest-ranked WTA player in Southeast Asia, the world No. 53 Eala became the first Filipina to win the event since Maricris Fernandez last achieved the feat in 1999.

Indonesia and Thailand dominated the event in the following editions with 7 and 4 titles, respectively, but Eala put an end to that duopoly as she expectedly brushed aside an opponent significantly ranked lower at world No. 240.

Eala sealed the win after a Sawangkaew forehand sailed out of bounds, the Filipina holding her face in her disbelief as she delivered just the Philippines’ eighth singles title — men and women included — in SEA Games tennis.

The 20-year-old also improved on her bronze finish in the 2021 Vietnam edition. – Rappler.com