Wild scenes unfolded in Abu Dhabi as Alexandra Eala turned a near-collapse into a roaring comeback, sending the crowd into a frenzy after surviving a match-point scare in the second round of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open. The 20-year-old Filipina dug deep to outlast Aliaksandra Sasnovich 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in a contest that swung violently in momentum and emotion.
A One-Sided Opening Set Sees Aliaksandra Sasnovich Take Firm Control of the Contest
Sasnovich set the tone early in the opening set. Serving with a first-serve percentage of nearly 70%, Sasnovich effectively neutralized Eala’s return game by varying her placement, winning 88% of her first-serve points (14/16) to race to a 6-2 lead.
Eala struggled with her second-serve protection, winning only 3 of 7 points, as Sasnovich stepped inside the baseline to take the ball early and create sharp angles that pulled the younger Filipina wide.
The narrative shifted in the second set as Eala began to extend the rallies, forcing Sasnovich into more physical exchanges. While the statistical sheet showed high unforced error counts on both sides, Eala’s tactical shift was evident in the break-point pressure she applied; she successfully converted two of 12 break-point opportunities.
The technical turning point occurred at 4-4, where Eala’s ability to defend the deuce court slice serve allowed her to reset rallies and eventually break Sasnovich’s serve to take the set 6-4.
How Did Alexandra Eala Survive a Match Point and Reignite the Crowd?
The third set elevated the drama. Sasnovich surged to a 4-0 lead, appearing to have steadied herself just as Eala’s energy dipped. Facing a break point that would have pushed the deficit to 5-0, Eala ripped a forehand winner that changed the temperature inside the stadium. The comeback gathered steam as games stacked up and the crowd grew louder with each hold and break.
MORE: Alexandra Eala Selling Out Stadiums at Abu Dhabi Open Draws Strong Reaction From Fellow Pro
Sasnovich served for the match at 5-2 and held a match point, but Eala charged forward, finishing at the net to stay alive. From there, the tension only tightened.
WHAT A CRAZY CLASSIC MATCH IT IS! 🥵
ALEX EALA WITH THE COMEBACK WIN IN 3 SETS AGAINST SASNOVICH!! 🔥
GRABEEE NILABAN NYA TALAGA ðŸ˜ðŸ‡µðŸ‡ pic.twitter.com/PyBAiLqYQG
— K 💫 (@keifornal) February 4, 2026
They reached a tiebreak, where Eala trailed 5-4 before staying composed as Sasnovich faltered.
Three straight points later, Eala sealed the win, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), and collapsed into emotion as the stands erupted.
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The victory booked her a quarterfinal meeting with World No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova. This is going to be their first meeting on the WTA Tour, with the winner facing either fifth seed Liudmila Samsonova or Hailey Baptiste in the semifinals.
Eala is also active in the doubles event with partner Janice Tjen. The pair defeated Leylah Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 3-6, 10-6 to reach the quarterfinals, where they will face second seeds Zhang Shuai and Cristina Bucșa.
