Southeast Asia's tennis pride makes an incredible comeback at the Abu Dhabi professional tournament

Once again, the reigning SEA Games champion proves her extraordinary resilience on the big stage.

Alex Eala delivered one of the most memorable comebacks at the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026 by brilliantly saving a match point while trailing 5-2 in the third set to defeat the experienced Aliaksandra Sasnovich, securing a thrilling quarterfinal spot.

Facing Sasnovich — a former top 30 player — in the round of 16, Eala struggled early on. Sasnovich quickly took control with her experience and consistent shot-making, winning the first set convincingly 6-2. Under immense pressure, Eala knew she had to raise her level to keep her hopes alive.

The second set saw a strong resurgence from Eala. Both players battled fiercely with long games and a tight scoreline. After leveling at 3-3, Southeast Asia’s tennis pride began to play more aggressively, capitalizing on her opponent’s mistakes to pull ahead and close the set 6-4, bringing the match back to even terms.

However, Sasnovich was not ready to give in easily. In the decisive set, the Belarusian started impressively, racing to a 4-0 lead and putting Eala in a nearly hopeless position. Yet, in the toughest moment, the reigning SEA Games gold medalist showed great fighting spirit by clawing back two games.

Sasnovich moved ahead again to 5-2 with a match point in hand, seemingly securing her place in the quarterfinals. But at that critical moment, Eala performed a miracle. Fueled by the passionate support of the Abu Dhabi crowd, she surged to win four consecutive games, taking a 6-5 lead and leaving her opponent tense and exhausted.

Sasnovich managed to level at 6-6, forcing a tiebreak. There, Eala maintained her focus and composure, winning 7-5 to complete a stunning comeback and officially secure her spot among the last eight competitors.

Despite the emotional victory, Alex Eala knows the challenges ahead are even greater. The Philippine player will face Ekaterina Alexandrova, one of the tournament’s top seeds, in a match scheduled for 8:00 PM on February 5 (Vietnam time).