PASAY CITY—The Senate rallied behind Alex Eala on August 4, celebrating her historic victory at the 2026 WTA Mubadala DC Open. 

Eala became the first Filipina to capture a WTA singles crown, a landmark triumph in Washington D.C. that propelled her to a career-high World No. 20. 

The plenary hall echoed with praise as lawmakers cheered her hard-fought win and called for stronger, sustained investment in local sports development to build on this global success.

Senate President Win Gatchalian lauded Eala for giving the nation its first international tennis championship, noting how millions of Filipinos stayed up late to watch her match. 

He emphasized that the late-night sacrifice paid off, bringing much-needed hope and inspiration to the country.

“At si Alex ay nagbigay ho sa atin ng inspirasyon na kung tayo po ay magbubuklod‑buklod, magpupursigi, wala ho tayong mga hamon na hindi po malalampasan. Kaya congratulations, Alex! At maraming salamat sa pagbibigay sa atin ng inspirasyon,” SP Gatchalian said.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo joined the congratulations during Tuesday’s plenary session, hailing Eala’s accomplishment as a monumental milestone for the entire nation. 

In his manifestation, Tulfo highlighted how her grit proves that grit and discipline can overcome any obstacle on the world stage.

“Alex's triumph is a reminder that excellence knows no boundaries. One's nationality, size, or resources need not define one's destiny. What matters is the courage to dream, the discipline to prepare, and the resilience to persevere,” Senator Tulfo said.

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