FOLLOWING a remarkable showing at the 2025 Guadalajara 125 Open early Sunday morning (Philippine Time), Alex Eala captured not only her maiden title but also received praise from tennis legend Rafa Nadal for her historic win.

The Filipina tennis sensation clinched her maiden WTA title yesterday, rallying past Hungary’s Panna Udvardy in the Finals with a hard-fought comeback win: 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Adding to the difficulty of bouncing back from a rough opening set, it’s worth noting that Udvardy had previously defeated Eala in the Round-of-16 at the Oeiras Open in Portugal last April.

Nevertheless, the World No. 75 tapped into her clutch instincts and applied the lessons from her tough 2025 US Open exit, delivering yet another unforgettable comeback performance.

A Triumph to Remember

Understanding the significance of the win—not just for the Filipina tennis star but also for the Philippines and its growing tennis scene—22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal shared a brief yet heartfelt message for Eala.

“Congrats, Alex Eala, on your first WTA [trophy],” Nadal said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “I am happy and proud of what you are achieving for yourself and for the Philippines.”

Eala, a proud graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, completed her training there in 2023—a place where her aspirations of becoming a renowned professional tennis player began to take shape.

At the same time, the 20-year-old tennis standout also received a congratulatory message from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who wrote on his Facebook page that Eala had written history.

“Ang iyong tagumpay ay tagumpay ng buong bansa. Gagawin natin ang lahat upang mas marami pang atletang Pilipino ang susunod sa yapak na ito at maipakita sa mundo ang galing at puso ng Pilipino,” Marcos Jr. said. 

Following her victorious run at the Guadalajara Open, Eala is set to compete in the Sao Paulo Open Courts in Brazil, where she enters as the third seed. The WTA 250 tournament kicks off on September 8.