Alex Eala capped a dominant run in the women’s singles event by overwhelming Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi. The victory delivered the Philippines its first SEA Games women’s singles gold in more than two decades.

Seeded No. 1 in the tournament, Eala became the country’s first women’s singles champion since Maricris Fernandez-Gentz won gold in 1999. The triumph marked another milestone for the 20-year-old, who entered the final as the clear favorite and played with authority throughout.

Eala set the tone early by recovering from a 0-40 deficit in the opening set and racing to a 3-0 lead. Sawangkaew briefly got on the board, but the Filipina quickly closed the set with three straight games.

Control despite second-set disruption

The second set featured brief controversy after questionable line calls forced the umpire to replay multiple points. Eala stayed composed despite the interruptions, even as Sawangkaew raised her level after a linesman change.

The Thai managed to break serve to level the set at 2-all, but Eala responded immediately. She broke back in the next game and capitalized on mounting pressure that led to a costly double fault from Sawangkaew.

Eala broke serve again to move ahead 5-2 and calmly served out the match to seal the gold. The straight-sets win reflected her control of key moments despite resistance and distractions.

A fitting year-end breakthrough

Eala described the victory as a perfect way to close the year, capping a season that saw her continue to climb the world rankings. Ranked world No. 52, she showed maturity beyond her years in navigating both momentum shifts and officiating issues.

The SEA Games campaign netted Eala one gold medal and two bronze medals from the mixed doubles and team events. Her performance underscored her status as the Philippines’ leading figure in women’s tennis.

With the historic gold secured in Nonthaburi, Eala added another landmark achievement to her growing résumé. The result also signaled a long-awaited breakthrough for Philippine women’s singles tennis on the regional stage.