Alex Eala reflects on Philippine tennis growth after PSA Athlete of the Year win

Philippine tennis sensation Alex Eala added another milestone to her rapidly growing résumé after being named co-winner of the prestigious Athlete of the Year award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) during its Annual Awards Night on Monday, February 16, at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

Eala shared the top individual honor with fellow Filipino sporting icon Carlos Yulo, underscoring what has been a banner year for Philippine sports on the global stage. At just 20 years old, Eala has firmly established herself as one of the country’s most accomplished and consistent international performers, carrying the torch for Philippine tennis into unprecedented territory.

Her recognition comes on the heels of a breakthrough 2025 campaign that elevated her profile both at home and abroad. Eala surged into the top 50 of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings by year’s end — a historic feat that signaled her arrival among the sport’s elite and marked a significant leap forward for Philippine tennis.

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The young Filipina authored several historic firsts over the past season. Her headline-grabbing run to the semifinals of the Miami Open — a WTA 1000 event — stunned the tennis world, as she toppled some of the sport’s biggest names along the way, including former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, American standout Madison Keys, and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. The performance not only cemented her legitimacy on the tour but also inspired a new wave of interest in tennis across the Philippines.

Eala’s trailblazing season continued at the US Open, where she became the first Filipino in history to win a main draw match in a Grand Slam tournament after defeating Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the opening round. The victory was widely celebrated back home, symbolizing a breakthrough moment for a nation long striving for representation on tennis’ biggest stages.

WELL-DESERVED 👏 👏 👏

WATCH: Alex Eala’s acceptance speech as she is named the 2025 PSA Co-Athlete of the Year along with Carlos Yulo.

The PSA held its annual awards night on Monday to recognize the achievements in sports in 2025. pic.twitter.com/oQyLF6e07Q

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 17, 2026

She capped off her remarkable year at the Southeast Asian Games, capturing her first gold medal in women’s singles. In doing so, she became the first Filipina to claim the SEA Games women’s singles tennis crown since Maricis Fernandez accomplished the feat in 1999 — ending a 26-year drought and reinforcing her status as a generational talent.

Despite being one of the evening’s central honorees, Eala was unable to attend the PSA Awards Night in person due to her campaign at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Still, she made sure to express her gratitude through a recorded message.

“Good evening everyone. I truly regret not being there tonight. I’m so honored to be named the PSA Athlete of the Year alongside Carlos Yulo. First of all, congratulations to Carlos, it is a huge honor to share this award with you,” Eala said.

She went on to acknowledge the people behind her success and the broader significance of the award.

“I also want to thank my family, my team, and my fellow Filipinos for their tireless support. Being named Female Athlete of the Year is a moment in my life that I will cherish forever. This award means so much to me because it reflects how far tennis — and my sport — has come in our country, and I only hope that this is just the beginning. So thank you very much for this recognition and congratulations to all of the awardees tonight.”

Eala’s ascent represents more than individual achievement. Her sustained excellence against the world’s best has redefined what is possible for Filipino tennis players and positioned her as one of the nation’s brightest sporting ambassadors. As she continues to climb the WTA rankings and compete on the biggest stages, the PSA Athlete of the Year honor serves as both recognition of past accomplishments and a signal of even greater expectations ahead.

With youth firmly on her side and momentum building, Philippine tennis appears to be entering a golden era — and Alex Eala stands at its forefront.

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