Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday congratulated Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala after she captured the Philippines' first-ever Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 500 singles title, calling the victory another historic breakthrough for Philippine sports. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos praised Eala in a social media post for continuing to elevate the country's profile on the international tennis stage. "Alex Eala does it again. The Philippines now has its first WTA 500 champion," the President said. He extended his congratulations for Eala's historic achievement and highlighted her role in redefining possibilities for Philippine tennis while inspiring young Filipinos to pursue their dreams. Marcos emphasized that the entire nation is celebrating Eala's latest milestone. He expressed his joy in Filipino, saying, "Kasama mo ang sambayanang Pilipino sa pagdiriwang ng panibagong tagumpay na ito. Mabuhay ka, Alex!" Eala secured the Mubadala DC Open title by defeating top-seeded American Jessica Pegula with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the championship match early Tuesday (Philippine time). This victory not only marked her first WTA 500 title but also her first hardcourt championship. It is expected to propel her to a career-high world No. 20 in the WTA rankings. The President has consistently recognized Eala's international achievements, viewing them as a source of pride and inspiration for young Filipinos across the nation.