Alex Eala reached a defining moment in her young tennis career in 2022 when she captured the 142nd US Open Junior Girls’ Singles Championship in New York City.
At the young age of 17, the southpaw won the championship without dropping a set, showcasing her dominating performance over the third seed Czech Lucie Havlickova in the final match held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.
Eala made history as the first Filipina player to ever win a Junior Singles Grand Slam title, a remarkable feat for the student of the Rafael Nadal Academy.
The 5-foot-9 tennister, who is a daughter of two bright minds in the world of business, had previously won two Grand Slam titles, but in doubles competition, during the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 French Open, respectively.
The young tennis star’s incredible performance and the milestone she achieved, at such a young age, earned her recognition as the perfect recipient for the President’s Award in the upcoming San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night.
Her dedication and relentless drive to improve her craft have inspired many, making her a deserving role model, especially among Filipino youth.
PSA President Rey Lachica, the sports editor of Tempo, stated, “Her sacrifices and relentless drive to improve her craft should serve as a template to success. Alex Eala is truly worthy to be a role model, especially among the Filipino youth.”
The annual awards night, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, is supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino, MILO, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Philippine Basketball Association, Rain or Shine, ICTSI, and OKBet. The event, which is set for March 6th at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel, is hosted by the country’s oldest media organization.
Eala is in good company as previous recipients of the PSA President’s Award include Olympians Yuka Saso and Caloy Yulo, the NU Lady Bulldogs, pool champions Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo, and Lee Van Corteza, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, among others.
The 2022 Athlete of the Year award was given to Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medal winner, for her three-gold medal performance in the 88th IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia.
Currently based in Mallorca, Spain, Eala is in Manila for a brief vacation following her recent stint in the Thailand Open. She is set to fly back to Mallorca next week to focus on the professional tour and improve her current world ranking of 217.
