Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) with Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala (right). Presidential Communications Office.MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted Alex Eala's influence as he encouraged more Filipinos to take up sports during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
"Sa nag-uumapaw nating suporta kay Alex Eala, sana ay marami ang ma-engganyo para matuto at maglaro hindi lamang ng tennis, kundi ng iba pang sport," said Marcos Jr. as he discussed the health and fitness of Filipinos.
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Eala recently made history at Wimbledon 2026, becoming the first Filipino to reach both the third and fourth rounds of the tournament in the Open Era.
For Marcos Jr., Eala's continued rise on the world stage goes beyond bringing recognition to the country, as he hopes it also inspires more Filipinos to embrace an active lifestyle.
"Mahalaga rin sa atin ang sports," he said. "Itinaas natin nang triple ang suporta natin dito. Hindi lamang dahil sa aliw na hatid nito, kundi para sa kalusugan."
Eala returns to action on Tuesday against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China in the first round of the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open in Washington.