Winning the SEA Games Gold Medal, the Southeast Asian tennis star receives congratulations from a Grand Slam champion

The beautiful Filipino tennis player brought world-class skill to the SEA Games and easily secured the precious gold medal.

Alexandra Eala’s Gold Medal achievement at the 33rd SEA Games - the 2025 WTA sensation not only brought great pride to Philippine tennis but also made waves internationally, as this young player received direct congratulations from top global stars, including Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff.

After concluding the SEA Games in Thailand with impressive results, Alex Eala shared memorable photos on her personal social media, accompanied by a brief but heartfelt caption: "For the Philippines and for Filipinos". The post quickly attracted attention from regional and international tennis fans, becoming a media highlight following the largest sports event in Southeast Asia.

In the comments, Coco Gauff - currently ranked world No. 3 and winner of 2 Grand Slams: US Open 2023 and Roland Garros 2025 - left a short but meaningful congratulatory message. Additionally, Victoria Mboko - a young player ranked 18th worldwide - also praised Eala, showing professional recognition of the Filipino player’s achievements. These responses from top stars further highlight the value of Eala’s SEA Games gold medal as a former Rafa Nadal academy student.

At this SEA Games, Eala performed outstandingly, bringing home a total of 3 medals for the Philippine sports delegation. She won gold in the women’s singles after a convincing run, affirming her status as the top player in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the 2005-born player also earned two bronze medals in mixed doubles with Francis Casey Alcantara and in the team event.

This SEA Games triumph also marked a perfect conclusion to a milestone year in Alexandra Eala’s career. Over the past year, she broke into the WTA top 50 rankings for the first time, reached the semifinals of the Miami Open, finished as runner-up at the Eastbourne Open, and notably won her first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara in September, demonstrating remarkable growth both technically and mentally.