‘Our new champion’: Philippines swept up in tennis fever after Alex Eala’s historic win

Twenty-one-year-old Filipino tennis player Alex Eala made history by winning a WTA event, defeating Jessica Pegula at the Washington DC Open tennis tournament. Her victory earned her a presidential reception in the Philippines and sparked a surge of interest in tennis across the country. Eala has been celebrated as a national hero, with Filipinos swept up in tennis fever following her landmark achievement.