Manila, June 29 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday offered words of encouragement to tennis sensation Alex Eala, following her record-breaking run at the Lexus Eastbourne Open, where she became the first Filipino to reach a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 250 singles final.

Despite narrowly missing the title in a tense three-set showdown, the President reminded Eala - and the nation - that her journey is far from over.

"You've made us all proud! Keep going, your best is yet to come," Marcos said in a social media post that echoed the sentiment of millions of Filipinos rallying behind the 20-year-old.

Eala held four championship points in the final set before ultimately falling to Australia's Maya Joint, 4-6, 6-1, 6(10)-7....