ABU DHABI: When Alexandra Eala steps onto court at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City on Monday evening to face wildcard Zeynep Sonmez, the moment will represent far more than a first-round match at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
It marks a full circle return to the tournament where the 20-year-old Filipina’s WTA 500 journey began – and a chance to write the next chapter in one of tennis’s most compelling breakthrough stories.
Twenty-four months ago, Eala arrived in Abu Dhabi for her maiden WTA 500 appearance, ranked outside the world’s top 180 and competing in the UAE for the very first time. She returns in 2026 as a Top 50 player, the first Filipina to break that barrier in tour history, thanks to a superb 2025 season that saw her defeat three Grand Slam champions in one week, claim her first WTA title, and make history at the US Open.
“I still remember my match here – I played Magdalena Fręch – and it was such a great learning experience for me,” Eala reflected on her 2024 Abu Dhabi debut. “I think that was my first time in the UAE. So a lot of new experiences, and I’ve grown a lot since then. So let’s see how this year pans out.”
The growth Eala references has been nothing short of remarkable. Starting 2025 ranked No. 147 and working through qualifying rounds and WTA 125 events, the Rafael Nadal Academy graduate announced her arrival on the sport’s biggest stages with a stunning run to the Miami Open semi-finals in March.
As a wildcard, she defeated former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys, and World No. 2 Iga Świątek in consecutive matches – becoming the first Filipino to beat a Top 10 player, the first to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final, and the first wildcard in WTA history to defeat three Grand Slam champions in a single tournament.
“I think there are quite prominent differences in all aspects of my game,” said Eala when asked about her evolution since her first Abu Dhabi appearance. “But more than that, I think it’s just the maturity of everything – how I approach things on court. Physically I’m more mature, a little stronger. It’s well-rounded growth.”
That maturity was on full display throughout a season highlighted by resilience and composure in pressure moments. Whether rallying from a set down to defeat 14th seed Clara Tauson at the US Open – becoming the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open Era – or recovering from a 1-6 first set deficit to claim her maiden WTA 125 title in Guadalajara, Eala demonstrated the mental fortitude that has become her trademark.
Now, as she prepares for her opening round clash with Sonmez at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Eala has another opportunity to break new ground. No Filipino player has ever won a WTA 500 title, and the hard courts of Zayed Sports City provide familiar territory for a player who has enjoyed some of her biggest career breakthroughs on the surface, including her historic Miami semifinal run and US Open victory.
“It would mean the world – and not just as a Filipino, but just as me,” Eala said when asked about the possibility of becoming the first from her country to win a WTA 500 tournament. “It would just mean so much for my personal growth and my personal journey.”
Eala’s presence in Abu Dhabi has already generated significant excitement among the UAE’s substantial Filipino community, who packed the Zayed Sports City grounds on Sunday while Eala took part in media duties.
The 20-year-old, who has become one of the Philippines’ most recogniaable sporting figures with over 869,000 Instagram followers, acknowledged the inevitable pressure that comes with representing a nation on the global stage.
“I want to say it’s business as usual, but, you know, it’s inevitable – with a lot of eyes on you, you’ll feel some pressure,” Eala explained. “But the thing is, all players feel pressure, and you just have to learn how to deal with it. And I think I’ve been doing pretty well so far.”
For now, Eala’s focus remains on Monday’s opening round, where victory against Sonmez would secure passage into the second round of a tournament that has already played such a significant role in her journey. From first-time participant to Top 50 breakthrough star, she returns to Abu Dhabi not just as a player who has grown, but as one ready to make history once again.
The match is scheduled for Monday, 2 February, not before 5pm at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City – giving the UAE’s passionate Filipino community the opportunity to support their national icon after work.
