Eala, the No. 29 seed in the women’s singles draw, defeated Joint, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, in their second-round match at the All England Club on Thursday, July 2. The victory sent the Filipina to the third round of Wimbledon, where she is set to face No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek for a spot in the Round of 16.
“Nakakabilib po ang ipinakita ni Alex Eala. Hindi madali ang matalo sa unang set, lalo na sa isang malaking torneo tulad ng Wimbledon, pero ipinakita niya ang tapang, disiplina, at determinasyon ng atletang Pilipino,” Go said.
The match carried added meaning for Eala, who faced Joint again after their intense 2025 Eastbourne Open final. In that previous meeting, Eala fell short in a three-set championship match, with Joint saving four championship points before taking the title.
Go said Eala’s ability to recover from that earlier setback and respond with a strong performance on one of tennis’ biggest stages should serve as an inspiration to young Filipino athletes.
“Sa sports, hindi laging panalo agad. May pagkatalo, may sakit, may pressure, at may pagkakataong kailangan bumangon. Ang mahalaga ay hindi sumusuko. Iyan ang ipinakita ni Alex,” he said.
Before her win against Joint, Eala opened her Wimbledon campaign with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in the first round, securing the first Wimbledon main-draw win of her career. Her latest victory over Joint extended her best Wimbledon campaign so far and strengthened her standing as one of the most promising young athletes representing the Philippines on the global stage.
Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, said Eala’s Wimbledon run should remind government, sports bodies, schools, local governments, and private partners that Filipino athletes can compete internationally when given long-term support, proper facilities, quality coaching, nutrition assistance, exposure, and mental conditioning.
“Marami tayong kabataang Pilipino na may talento. Ang kailangan lang po nila ay mabigyan ng pagkakataon, gabay, suporta, at tamang programa mula grassroots hanggang national level,” Go said.
As part of his sports advocacy, Go has pushed for stronger institutional support for Filipino athletes through legislation and budget initiatives aimed at improving training systems, facilities, competitions, and incentives.
Among these is the National Academy of Sports, established under Republic Act No. 11470, which Go authored and co-sponsored. Located in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, the NAS provides a dual-track system that allows student-athletes to pursue quality secondary education while undergoing specialized sports training.
To expand access to the model, Go filed Senate Bill No. 171, or the proposed National Academy of Sports Regional Expansion Act of 2025, which seeks to establish NAS campuses in different regions, with particular focus on Visayas and Mindanao. The proposed regional campuses are intended to provide full scholarships and maintain academic and athletic standards consistent with the main campus.
Go also filed Senate Bill No. 407, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, to promote inclusive incentives for para-athletes.
The senator congratulated Eala and urged young Filipinos to draw inspiration from her discipline and perseverance.
“Congratulations kay Alex Eala. Ipagpatuloy mo lang ang laban. Inspirasyon ka sa maraming kabataang Pilipino na nangangarap na makapagbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa,” Go said.