Alex Eala stages comeback win at Abu Dhabi Open

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on February 4, 2026.

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala delivered a stunning comeback at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Wednesday night (February 4), fighting back from the brink of defeat to reach the quarterfinals. Eala defeated Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), after trailing 0-4 in the deciding third set. The thrilling match lasted nearly three hours on the Stadium Court. With her Abu Dhabi campaign hanging by a thread, the World No. 45 dug deep to turn the match around. “Yeah, I think she started really well and in the tight moments. I think she also stepped up, especially with the serve and a lot of winners,” Eala said in her post-match interview. “I really tried my best in those moments to fight, I really tried to find the fight. And in the end, I think, you know, when I was coming back, I was able to find it, so I'm really proud of that,” she added. After falling behind 0-4 in the final set, Eala appeared to be running out of momentum. She won the next two games to get on the scoreboard. Sasnovich later moved to match point at 5-2, but Eala refused to give up, forcing a tiebreak and sealing a gritty victory. “I just think these moments are moments I only dreamt about. Selling out stadiums, it’s insane,” Eala said. “These matches in particular are really the ones that stick with you.” The challenge gets tougher in the quarterfinals, where she faces World No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova on Thursday (February 5). “Yeah. A long way to go. And each round is even more of a challenge, I think it has its own unique challenges every match, so I'll try my best to recover and prepare for that one,” she said. Eala also has a quick turnaround in doubles. She will team up with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen to face second-seeded pair Zhang Shuai and Cristina Bucsa in the quarterfinal round. Eala praised the public support for her in Abu Dhabi. “The support is really great (in Abu Dhabi),” she said following her victory. “I’ve been in a lot of positions before with a lot of people, but this year has really stepped up a notch. With every match I play in these environments, I’m learning to have fun and enjoy it. What’s special here is seeing the crowd get excited, and knowing there are so many Filipino expats in the region who come together for moments like this. It’s a platform for them to celebrate and share in something they’re excited about. I’m really grateful for that support.” ICA/Expat Media