The Philippines has been swept up in tennis fever after 21-year-old rising star Alex Eala delivered a historic win, drawing praise from the president who hosted a reception in her honour. On Monday, Eala became the first player from the Philippines to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour-level singles title. Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos released a message on social media on Tuesday congratulating Eala on “yet another historic achievement”, adding: “You continue to redefine what is possible for Philippine tennis and inspire countless young Filipinos to dream without limits.” Signs in the stadium during the match expressed what Eala means to the country, including one reading: “Alex you make us proud to be Filipino”. The Philippines does not have that infrastructure, and tennis remained a sport for the elite, with courts mostly found in wealthy areas.