Filipina tennis star Alex Eala celebrates a point against Malaysia's Shihomi Leong in the quarterfinal of the women's singles competition of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 15, 2025 at the Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand. POC Media
(3rd UPDATE) Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is off to a winning start in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.
Eala defeated Malaysia's Shihomi Leong, 6-3, 6-1, in the quarterfinal of the women's singles competition on Monday afternoon at the Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The victory assured her of at least a bronze in the event.
World No. 52 Eala trailed 1-3 in the opening set before asserting herself and winning five straight games to take control of the match. She carried that momentum in the second set en route to the straightforward victory.
She is set to play home bet Thasaporn Naklo in the semifinals, where she hopes to improve on her bronze-medal finish from the 2022 edition of the SEA Games in Vietnam.
Later in the day, Eala teamed up with Niño Alcantara in the quarterfinal of the mixed doubles, where they swept Singapore's Daniel Abadia and Wei Choo, 6-4, 6-3.
The victory assured Eala and Alcantara of at least another bronze medal.
Eala, who is making her second appearance in the SEA Games, is tipped as one of the Philippines' brightest medal hopes after her breakout campaign in the WTA Tour this year.
She along with men's volleyball captain Bryan Bagunas had been the country's flag-bearers during the opening ceremonies of the SEA Games.
READ: Alex Eala begins medal bid against Malaysian foe
Eala was listed in the Philippines' roster for the team event, but did not see action as the squad went on to win bronze.