Following her historic campaign at Wimbledon, tennis sensation Alex Eala was hosted at a special homecoming reception at Malacañang Palace on Monday evening, July 13.
The world No. 28, who made history as the first Filipina to play as a seeded competitor in a Grand Slam singles draw, met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and vowed to continue representing the nation on the global stage.
During her remarks, Eala highlighted how her heritage remains her ultimate motivation whenever she competes abroad.
”Lubos kong ipinagmamalaki ang pagiging Pilipino,” she shared. “I carry the flag with me wherever I go and I’m a firm believer that where you come from is a big part of who you are.”
She explained that her on-court achievements are driven by a deep-seated responsibility to showcase the best of the Philippines.
”So, like you said, Mr. President, I do my best to represent the best of our country on and off the court because I’m really proud and it comes from a genuine place of love,” she said, before adding, “So, I promise that I will continue to represent the Philippines in the best way that I possibly can.”
A Dream Validated
Eala reached the fourth round of Wimbledon after pulling off a spectacular upset against defending champion Iga Swiatek. She admitted that the formal recognition from the country’s leadership served as a profound validation of her quiet sacrifices behind the scenes.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I’d be having dinner here at the Malacañang Palace next to you and be receiving such kind and genuine words,” she told President Marcos. “And I feel very seen. And hearing that come from you, I feel like all the hardwork that I have done is seen. All the hours that aren’t on TV are seen, and validated, and appreciated.”
Accompanied by her parents, Mike and Rizza Eala, the young athlete expressed her deep appreciation for the overwhelming support of her fellow Filipinos, dedicating her milestone achievements to the entire country.
”I’m so grateful that I am able to share my triumphs, most especially my recent run at Wimbledon with the country. Sabi nga natin: Tagumpay ito nating lahat.”
”I cannot begin to describe how overjoyed I am to see how my progress has been received by the Filipino people,” she added. “And it warms my heart because I know that it comes from a profound and shared love for our nation.”
Eala is currently back in Manila for a series of local commitments, which includes a scheduled public meet-and-greet with fans on Wednesday, July 15, at the Glorietta Activity Center.