PSA President’s Award for tennis ace Eala
The young handsome darling of today’s Filipino tennis, ALEX EALA, achieved a milestone in 2022 when she won the 142nd US Open Junior Girls Singles Championship at Flushing Meadows in New York City.
17-year-old Eala didn’t lose a set in her 6-2, 6-4 dominance of third-seeded Czech Lucie Havlickova in the final at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
It was truly a memorable ride for Eala, who went down in history as the first Filipino player to claim a Grand Slam crown in junior singles.
In a scene that was truly heartwarming, Eala proudly spoke in Filipino for the whole world to hear while she shed tears of joy during her acceptance speech.
A Rafael Nadal Academy student, the 5ft 9 wonder already owns two Grand Slam titles in the past, albeit in doubles at the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 French Open.
Her breakthrough performance and making history at such a young age made Eala the perfect choice for the President’s Award at the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night.
“Their sacrifices and tireless drive to improve their craft should serve as a model for success,” said PSA President Rey Lachica, Tempo sports editor. “Alex Eala is truly worthy of being a role model, especially among Filipino youth.”
The traditional awards night of the country’s oldest media organization, to be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Diamond Hotel on March 6th, will be presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV and will be attended by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Mayor of Tagaytay City, Abraham Tolentino, Milo, MVP, actively supports Sports Foundation, Smart, 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Philippine Basketball Association, Rain or Shine, International Container Terminal Services Inc. and OKBet.
Eala has been a resident of Mallorca, Spain for some time and is in good company as past PSA President’s Award recipients include Olympians Yuka Saso and Caloy Yulo, National University Lady Bulldogs, pool champions Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza, Samahang, include Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan, among others.
Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, is the 2022 Female Athlete after winning three gold medals at the 88th International Weightlifting Federation World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia.
Eala is currently in Manila for a short vacation after playing at the Thailand Open.
She will fly back to Mallorca next week and focus on the professional tour and improving her current world ranking of 217.
Credit: Nonoy Lacza
