Alex Eala's historic breakthrough has sparked a tennis boom in the Philippines, with the 21-year-old quickly becoming one of the country's biggest sporting stars.
Eala made history on Monday by becoming the first Filipino player to win a WTA Tour-level singles title after defeating world No. 1 Jessica Pegula in the Washington DC final.
The victory came after an impressive run at Wimbledon, where Eala became the first Filipino woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam. She also stunned defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets on Centre Court.
Her latest achievement has now taken the excitement surrounding her to another level.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos congratulated Eala following her Washington triumph and later hosted a reception for her at Malacañang Palace in Manila. Eala has also received praise from boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who hailed her as "our new champion".
The excitement has extended far beyond government buildings and social media.
Tennis clubs across the Philippines have reported a surge in demand, with courts, classes and training camps filling up. Some clubs have also begun upgrading their facilities to cope with the increased interest.
Eala herself has noticed the change.
"Everyone comes up to me whenever I go back to Manila saying it's so hard to get courts," she said. "That's a good thing because when I was younger the courts were empty, nobody was playing."
Tennis has traditionally struggled to compete for attention in a country where basketball, billiards and boxing dominate the sporting landscape. But Eala's success has encouraged fans to organise watch parties and gather at public venues to follow her matches, even when they are played in the middle of the night in the Philippines.
The response has also been felt in Washington. Tournament director Mark Ein said a large majority of ticket enquiries during the event were from fans asking when Eala would play.
Eala's rise is particularly significant because of the challenges facing tennis development in the Philippines. Unlike major tennis nations with large investments in facilities and player development, the country has limited infrastructure, while tennis has often been viewed as a sport mainly accessible to wealthier communities.
Eala experienced some of those limitations herself. She developed her game on converted basketball courts in Quezon City before moving to Spain at 13 after receiving a scholarship to the Rafa Nadal Academy.
Now, she is using her growing platform to highlight the need for better public courts, equipment and opportunities for young players.
Her success has already inspired more Filipinos to pick up a racket, but Eala believes the next step is making sure they have somewhere to play.
For a country that has long rallied around boxing icon Pacquiao, Eala is emerging as a new sporting figure capable of inspiring an entire generation.
And as tennis fever continues to spread across the Philippines, her historic title could prove to be more than just another trophy. It could be the beginning of a new era for the sport in the country.
