Already guaranteed a bronze, Alex Eala sets her sights higher as the Filipina tennis ace takes on Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo in the women’s singles semifinal of SEA Games 2025.
Alex Eala has already guaranteed herself a medal at the SEA Games Thailand 2025, but the Filipina rising ace is not settling.
Assured of at least bronze, Eala now pushes for a place in the gold medal match in battling Thai standout Thasaporn Naklo on Tuesday, December 16, at the Center Court of the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The tennis matches are scheduled to begin no later than 11:00 a.m. with the game also available on the One Sports YouTube page and via Pilipinas Live app.
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE | Team Philippines competes at SEA Games 2025 Thailand]
Seeded as no. 1, Eala launched her campaign in convincing fashion, dispatching Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals on Monday, December 15.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala assured of SEA Games 2025 bronze medal with win over Malaysia’s Leong]
The Filipina had to shake off an early deficit, trailing 1-3 in the opening set, before finding her rhythm and ripping off five straight games to seize control and never look back.
[ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Alex Eala safely through SEA Games 2025 semis after passing first test]
Now standing in the way of Eala’s first-ever SEA Games gold medal berth is Naklo, the world no. 354, who announced herself as a serious threat by slaying fourth seed 24 Priska Nugroho of Indonesia earlier in the tournament.
A victory would already mark a breakthrough for Eala, eclipsing her bronze-medal finish at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi in 2022 and putting her within one win of gold.
The winner of the semifinal will advance to face either Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew or Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in the championship match.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]