MANILA – Malacañang commended Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala after she defeated world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States and claimed the crown in the 2026 Mubadala DC Open.
Eala overturned a one-set deficit to take down Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, and become the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour championship.
READ: Alex Eala turns back Pegula, makes history with DC Open title
In a briefing Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro congratulated Eala, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was elated by the victory.
"Noong nakaraang araw ay tinanong ko kung pinanood niya iyong ibang laro ng Pangulo, ang sabi po sa atin, usually ay ayaw niyang manood nang live dahil mukhang mayroon daw yata siyang dalang hindi suwerte kapag nanonood siya nang personal na laro o nanonood siya live," Castro said.
"So, kagabi ay hindi ko naitanong kung siya mismo ay nanood pero nagbigay na po siya ng kaniyang pagbati at karangalan sa buong taumbayan, sa sambayanang Pilipino at ng ating bansa ang pagkapanalo po ni Alex Eala. So, congratulations!" she added.
In a Facebook post early Tuesday, Marcos Jr. congratulated Eala for "another historic achievement."
"Congratulations on yet another historic achievement. You continue to redefine what is possible for Philippine tennis and inspire countless young Filipinos to dream without limits," he said.
"Kasama mo ang sambayanang Pilipino sa pagdiriwang ng panibagong tagumpay na ito. Mabuhay ka, Alex!" Marcos Jr. added.
READ: Congratulations pour in for Alex Eala after DC Open triumph
Asked if the president will extend another invitation for Eala in Malacanang, Castro said there are no talks for now.
Marcos had conferred a presidential citation to Eala last July, when the Filipina star returned to the country for a brief visit after her Wimbledon campaign.
"Alam naman po natin na ang Pangulo pagdating po kay Miss Alex Eala ay talagang buhos po ang kaniyang pagsuporta," she said.
"Sa ngayon po ay hindi pa napag-uusapan kung iimbitahin muli pero alam natin na sobrang maligaya po ang Pangulo sa pagkapanalo po ni Miss Alex Eala," she added.