Alexandra Eala delivered a stunning comeback victory at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich in a dramatic three-set match that highlighted her growing reputation for resilience under pressure.
The 20-year-old Filipina appeared on the verge of defeat after falling behind 4-0 in the deciding set. Sasnovich later moved to a 5-2 lead and served for the match, placing Eala in a near-impossible position. However, the momentum shifted when Sasnovich committed a double fault on match point, giving Eala a crucial lifeline.
From that moment, Eala mounted a remarkable recovery, winning game after game to force a final-set tiebreak. With the crowd firmly behind her, she closed out the contest by winning the last three points of the breaker to secure a 7-5 tiebreak victory.
“I just think these moments are moments I only have dreamed about,” Eala said after the match, reflecting on her emotional win.
The result reinforced Eala’s reputation for mental toughness. She has previously staged major comebacks, including recovering from 5-1 down in a deciding set against Clara Tauson at the US Open. Against Sasnovich, she once again proved her ability to raise her level when facing elimination.
Despite Sasnovich recording more winners and winning more total points, Eala dominated the key moments. Her composure in high-pressure situations continues to set her apart as one of the tour’s most promising young players.
The victory also underlined Eala’s growing consistency on the WTA circuit. She has now reached at least the quarterfinal stage across all three tiers of WTA tournaments. Over the past year, she reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event in Miami, finished runner-up at the WTA 250 in Eastbourne, and made the semifinals in Auckland earlier this season.
These results reflect a steady rise rather than isolated success, as Eala continues to establish herself among the tour’s emerging contenders.
Her next challenge in Abu Dhabi will come against second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the quarterfinals. The matchup presents another major test, but Eala’s latest performance has strengthened belief in her ability to compete with the sport’s top players.
With confidence building and momentum on her side, Eala will look to extend her impressive run and continue her breakthrough campaign on the WTA Tour.
