Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Mark Villar have filed separate resolutions congratulating Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala for making history after capturing the 2026 Mubadala DC Open title.
Both senators said Eala deserves recognition for becoming the first Filipino to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles championship.
Pangilinan said Eala’s victory is a triumph for the entire country and proof that Filipino athletes can compete with the world’s best through hard work, discipline and sacrifice.
He also stressed the need for the government to invest more in sports programs, quality training and better facilities to help produce more world-class Filipino athletes.
For his part, Villar said Eala’s latest achievement further cemented her place as the country’s greatest female tennis player after climbing to a career-high world No. 20.
He also praised the 21-year-old athlete for remaining humble despite her growing success and expressed confidence that she can achieve even greater milestones, including winning a Grand Slam title in the future.
Eala won the Washington tournament after defeating world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in a come-from-behind three-set final, becoming the first Filipino to capture a WTA Tour singles crown.IMT
