TENNIS sensation Alex Eala served an ace for the Philippines on the big stage last March.
Playing as a wild card, Eala, 19, shocked the world and bundled out one big gun after another to highlight her historic run in the Miami Open in Florida.
On her way to the semis, the No. 140-ranked Pinoy toppled a slew of marquee opponents in former French Open champion JelenaOstapenko in the second round 7-6-7-5, No. 5 and reigning Australian Open queen Madison Keys in the third round 6-4, 6-2, and No. 2 and five-time grand slam champion IgaSwiatek in the quarterfinals, 6-2, 7-5.
Though Jessica Pegula ended her giant killing spree in the Last-4, Eala came out of the WTA 1000 event as one of the game’s fast-rising stars. She also holds the honors as the first Filipino in the Open era to beat a player in the WTA Top 5 and the first Filipino woman to break into the Top 100, soaring to No. 73 on account of her star-making stint in Miami.
Eala earned the nod as the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s top achiever for March 2025.
Triumphs on other fronts complemented the smashing feat of the talented Rafa Nadal Academy product.
Reigning world 9-ball titlist Rubilen Amit flexed her muscles in winning two tournaments in one weekend in Las Vegas – the Women’s Challenge of Champions at the expense of Russia’s Kristina Tkach and the Las Vegas Women’s Open over China’s Han Yu.
Melvin Jerusalem successfully defended his WBC world minimum weight belt with a unanimous decision (118-110, 116-112, 119-109) over Japanese rival YudaiShigeoka in their grudge match in Japan. Jerusalem retained his spot alongside IBF strawweight kingpin Pedro Taduran in the small club of reigning Filipino world boxing titleholders.
Rookie pro Aidric Chan delivered one of Philippine golf’s worthiest achievements in months by ruling the Lexus Challenge in the Asian Development Tour held in Vietnam.
Chan shot a final round four-under-par 67 to beat countryman JuvicPagunsan and two others in a tight contest for the crown and the $15,700 winner’s purse.
In the PBA, TNT beat Barangay Ginebra in a dramatic Game 7 that went into overtime, 87-83, to win the Commissioner’s Cup championship. Guard Rey Nambatac was adjudged the Finals MVP.
