Filipino tennis star Alex Eala reaffirmed her commitment to representing the Philippines with pride as she accepted a special Presidential Citation from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a special reception at Malacañang Palace on July 13.
The 21-year-old athlete, who recently made history with her breakthrough run at Wimbledon, was honored by the President and the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for becoming the first Filipino to reach the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam singles tournament. She also had a third-round victory over defending Wimbledon champion and then-world No. 3 Iga Swiatek before bowing to Jasmine Paolini in three sets in the fourth round.
During the ceremony, President Marcos described Alex as a national inspiration whose achievements and unwavering Filipino identity have brought immense pride to the country.
Accepting the recognition, Alex admitted she was unusually nervous as she stood before the guests to deliver her speech.
"I have to confess, I normally do not get very nervous when I have to talk. But, today is the exception. I am pretty nervous," she said with a smile.
She then expressed her gratitude to President Marcos for the recognition, saying the honor made her feel that years of hard work behind the scenes had finally been acknowledged.
"Thank you, Mr. President, for this special honor and for the warm welcome. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would be having dinner here at Malacañang Palace next to you and be receiving such kind and genuine words."
She continued: "I feel very seen. Hearing that come from you, I feel like all the hard work that I've done is seen. All the hours that aren't on TV are seen and validated and appreciated. So, thank you so, so much."
Alex also shared how meaningful it was to celebrate her Wimbledon success with her fellow Filipinos.
"I'm so grateful for this recognition. I'm so grateful to be in a room filled with such amazing people. It's so humbling to be in the presence of all of you."
"I'm so grateful that I'm able to share my triumphs, most especially my recent run at Wimbledon, with the country. Sabi nga natin, tagumpay ito nating lahat," she added.
The tennis star said she has been overwhelmed by the support she has received from Filipinos around the world, adding that it has made her even prouder to represent the country.
"I cannot begin to describe how overjoyed I am to see how my progress has been received by the Filipino people. And it warms my heart because I know that it comes from a profound and shared love for our country."
Alex went on to declare that carrying the Philippine flag is a responsibility she embraces with pride wherever she competes.
"With that being said, lubos ko pong ipinagmamalaki ang maging Pilipino. I carry the flag with me wherever I go. And I am a firm believer that where you come from is a big part of who you are."
Echoing President Marcos's remarks, she vowed to continue being a good representative of the country not only in tennis but also beyond the sport.
"So, like you said, Mr. President, I do my best to represent the best of our country on and off the court because I'm really proud, and it comes from a genuine place of love.
"I promise that I will continue to represent the Philippines in the best way that I possibly can. Maraming salamat po, at mabuhay ang Pilipinas," she proudly maintained.
Joining the young athlete in the reception were her mother, former national swimmer Rosemarie Maniego-Eala, her father, businessman Michael Eala, and her tennis agent Carter Lin, along with several government officials and invited guests.
Following her remarkable run, Alex has received an outpouring of support from Filipinos around the world, including from celebrities Gabbi Garcia, Kim Atienza, Mond Gutierrez, Georgina Wilson, Eugene Domingo, Karen Davila, and many others who congratulated her on her historic achievement.
After Wimbledon 2026, Alex reached a career-high Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking of World No. 28, the highest so far attained by a Filipina.