Alex Eala hails PSA Athlete of the 12 months award a proof of PH tennis’ rise

Tennis ace Alex Eala says she is honored to share the Athlete of the 12 months award from the Philippine Sportswriters Affiliation with Olympic gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo

MANILA, Philippines – For Alex Eala, being named Athlete of the 12 months by the Philippine Sportswriters Affiliation is a validation of tennis’ rise within the nation.

Eala shared the celebrated honor with Olympic gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo as they have been hailed probably the most excellent athletes of 2025 by the oldest media group within the Philippines on Monday, February 16. 

“This award means a lot to me as a result of it displays on how far tennis and my sport has are available in our nation and I solely hope that that is only the start,” stated Eala by a recorded video as she missed the awards evening attributable to her ongoing marketing campaign within the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Eala took 2025 by storm as she cracked the world prime 50 and claimed a number of historic feats for Philippine tennis.

Her greatest run got here within the Miami Open — a WTA 1000 occasion — the place she surprised Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek of Poland, Madison Keys of the USA, and Jelana Ostapenko of Latvia on the best way to the semifinals.

Eala then turned the primary Filipino to win a Grand Slam fundamental draw match within the Open period when she beat Denmark’s Clara Tauson within the first spherical of the US Open.

She wrapped up the yr by successful her first-ever gold medal within the Southeast Asian Video games, changing into the primary Filipina to win the ladies’s singles crown within the biennial showpiece since Maricis Fernandez dominated in 1999. 

These achievements have been greater than sufficient for Eala to get her first PSA Athlete of the 12 months, an award received by Yulo for the second straight time.

Yulo additionally loved a glowing 2025 as he claimed the vault title within the Inventive Gymnastics World Championships and continued his golden streak within the Asian Inventive Gymnastics Championships, the place he topped the ground train for the fourth yr in a row. 

“I’m so honored to be named the PSA Athlete of the 12 months alongside Carlos Yulo. Initially, congratulations to Carlos, it’s a big honor to share this award with you. I additionally need to thank my household, my staff, and my fellow Filipinos for his or her tireless help,” stated Eala in a mixture of Filipino and English. 

“Being named Feminine Athlete of the 12 months is a second in my life that I’ll cherish ceaselessly.” 

Eala has been onerous at work this yr as she has competed in six tournaments thus far, together with the inaugural Philippine Girls’s Open, an occasion made attainable by her rising affect and star energy. – Rappler.com