ALEX EALA STUNS AND INSPIRES

A whole nation watched with bated breath as the tennis court princess, Alexandra Eala, battled world's number four Jessica Pegula of the USA on a Friday afternoon.

- MYLENE MENDOZA-DAYRIT

The game, a grueling two hours and 25 minutes, ended the stint of Alex in the semi-finals.

For days previous to the Friday game, she slayed one Grand Slam champion after another. Her Filipino countrymen rejoiced as one stunning upset after another was served by this 19-year-old tennis sensation.

Alex, currently ranked 140 in the world, defeated Grand Slam champion and world number two Ida Swiatek of Poland. Swiatek, a former number-one player, is a two-time BNP Paribas Open champion and a five-time Grand Slam singles champion. She also won two Indian Wells titles.

Crowd favorite, world's number five, Madison Keys of the United States, who won last January her first-ever Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, was also defeated by Alex.

She also claimed a victory against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner, as well as a Grand Slam doubles champion in the 2024 US Open.

"It feels amazing because I know this is a historical achievement, which I dedicate to my country. It's also a huge personal achievement, and for that, I'd love to give myself and my team a pat on the back. It's not the end goal. Keep working," Alex humbly said after the game.