SEA Games: Alex Eala beats Malaysian foe to reach women's singles tennis semifinals

Alex Eala played like the world-class talent that she is, beating Shihomi Leong of Malaysia with a 6-3, 6-1 win in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games women's singles tennis quarterfinals on Monday at the National Tennis Development Center in Thailand. 

With the statement win, the Filipina tennis star will advance to the semifinals as she aims for her first-ever SEA Games gold medal. 

Despite her long list of international accolades, the 20-year-old Eala has yet to win a gold medal at the biennial event. 

In her SEA Games debut in 2022 in Vietnam, Eala was able to seize three bronze medals by finishing third in the singles, mixed doubles, and women's team events. 

Now ranked no. 53 in the world, Eala is eager to put her name in the SEA Games map, first earning a Round of 16 bye before dominating the 18-year-old Leong, who's currently the world no. 969. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News