Alex Eala, Janice Tjen win thrilling doubles match at Abu Dhabi Open

Alex Eala and Janice Tjen win a dramatic super tiebreak doubles match at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on February 3, 2026.

Alex Eala and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen delivered one of the most exciting matches of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, winning a dramatic doubles clash that went down to a super tiebreak at Zayed Sports City on Tuesday (February 3). A full crowd packed ADCB Court 1 to watch the Asian duo take on Leylah Fernandez and former world No. 1 doubles player Kristina Mladenovic. The match kept fans on the edge of their seats before Eala and Tjen sealed victory in the decisive tiebreak, sparking cheers from an ecstatic audience. The 20-year-old Filipina continues to show strong form in Abu Dhabi and is drawing large support from fans in the UAE. When asked about the prospect of becoming the first Filipino to win a WTA 500 title, Eala said: “It would mean the world – and not just as a Filipino, but just as me. It would just mean so much for my personal growth and my personal journey.” She returns to Stadium Court on Wednesday evening to face Aliaksandra Sasnovich in singles, with large crowds expected once again. The match takes place on International Girl and Women in Sports Day, adding even more significance to the occasion. Elsewhere in the singles draw, seven-time WTA Tour title winner Liudmila Samsonova defeated Janice Tjen in straight sets, while McCartney Kessler knocked out 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open singles champion Leylah Fernandez. Hailey Baptiste also impressed, winning an all-American clash against Emma Navarro to book her place in the quarter-finals. “It feels really good to progress to the quarters,” Baptiste said. “The atmosphere was great and there’s some fans here from back home in Washington DC which is awesome.” The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open runs until February 7, blending top-tier WTA 500 tennis with youth initiatives and the tournament’s first wheelchair tennis invitational, presented by the WTA Foundation. Tickets are available at Platinumlist. ICA/Expat Media