MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. honored Filipino tennis star Alex Eala with a Presidential Citation at Malacañang Palace on Monday, recognizing her historic performance at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships and her contributions to Philippine sports.
During a homecoming reception attended by Eala and her family, President Marcos praised the 21-year-old athlete for becoming the first Filipino singles player to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon, describing her achievements as a source of national pride.
In his remarks, the President said Eala had become an inspiration to Filipinos through both her achievements and the humility she displayed throughout her rise in international tennis.
“Alex Eala has brought such pride to the Philippines and to the Filipinos, not only because of her success, but because of the grace with which she has handled that success,” Marcos said.
He added that Eala’s accomplishments reflect the finest qualities of the Filipino people.
“She has reminded us why we are a great race. The qualities she has shown the world are the best qualities of Filipinos.”
Marcos also thanked the young tennis star for inspiring the nation and assured her of the country’s continued support as she competes on the world stage.
“Thank you for making every Filipino proud. We are all here. And when you’re in some faraway place, know that the entire Filipino nation is behind you,” the President said.
The President personally presented Eala with the Presidential Citation in recognition of her breakthrough campaign at the prestigious Grand Slam tournament. During the reception, Marcos also shared that he had become “a real fan” of Eala and expressed hope of watching one of her matches in person someday.
In her response, Eala thanked President Marcos and the Filipino people for their overwhelming support, saying the recognition at Malacañang was something she had never imagined.
“I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that I would be having dinner here at Malacañang Palace,” Eala said, adding that the encouragement she has received from Filipinos continues to motivate her as she pursues greater success on the international stage.
Eala received the Presidential Citation days after making history at Wimbledon, where she became the first Filipino singles player in the Open Era to reach the fourth round of the tournament. Her remarkable run elevated Philippine tennis to unprecedented heights and further established her as one of the country’s brightest young sporting icons.
Before welcoming Eala to Malacañang, President Marcos had already congratulated her publicly for her Wimbledon campaign, calling her a world-class athlete whose determination and sportsmanship have inspired millions of Filipinos.
Following her homecoming, Eala is expected to resume her international campaign with the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., later this month as she continues her ascent in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
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