Alex Eala clinched a groundbreaking bronze in Women’s Tennis Singles at the 2023 Asian Games, ending a 61-year medal drought for the Philippines in Women’s tennis. The win elevated the nation’s medal count to six, including one silver and five bronze medals.
The 18-year-old, ranked World No. 190, faced off against World No. 23 Qinwen Zheng from China in an intense semifinal that stretched over three hours, ending 1-6, 7-6, 3-6 in favor of the top-seeded Chinese athlete. The performance earned Eala a bronze medal.
Alex Eala, the Filipina champion of the US Open Girls, is also set for another podium finish in Mixed Doubles with partner Francis Alcantara. The duo defeated Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum and Maximus Jones in the quarterfinals with scores of 6-4, 6-4. They will face Chinese Taipei’s Liang En-shuo and Huang Tsung-hao for the medal on September 29th at the HOC Tennis Centre.
If they win the semifinal, it will mark the Philippines’ best tennis finish in 57 years, making Eala the first double medalist for the country at the 19th Asiad and Alcantara a first-time Asian Games medalist.
As of Day 5, the Philippines has increased its Day 1 initial single medal to six—comprising one silver and five bronze across various disciplines.
Medal Tally Breakdown:
- Sunday, 24 September
- Bronze: Patrick King Perez – Taekwondo Men’s Individual Poomsae
- Monday, 25 September
- Bronze: Jones Llabres Inso – Wushu Men’s Taijiquan / taijijian all-around
- Wednesday, 27 September
- Bronze: Gideon Fred Padua – Wushu Men’s 60kg
- Bronze: Clemente Tabugara Jr – Wushu Men’s 65kg
- Thursday, 28 September
- Silver: Arnel Mandal – Wushu Men’s 56kg
- Bronze: Alexandra Eala – Tennis Women’s singles
The Philippines' medal tally after Day 5 is now at 6 (1 silver, 5 bronze) after Alex Eala battled China and delivered a historic Women's Tennis Singles podium finish at the #AsianGames2023 @19thAGofficial @AsianGamesOCA @olympics @psc_gov @OlympicPHI pic.twitter.com/oRUJplxBhc
— GoodNewsPilipinas.com (@GoodNewsPinas_) September 29, 2023
Hopes for a gold medal are high at the quadrennial continental games, especially for World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena competing on September 30th, Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz on October 2nd, and Olympic silver medalists in boxing Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.
WATCH these video clips of Alex Eala’s games that secured her double-medal finish at the 19th Asian Games.
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