Filipino tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala delivered a spectacular performance at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Monday, securing a decisive victory against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 straight-sets win. The 20-year-old left-handed sensation, currently ranked 45th globally, showcased exceptional form before an enthusiastic crowd of Filipino supporters at Zayden Sports City.
Eala’s impressive showing comes as a strong rebound from her recent quarterfinal exit at the WTA 125 Challenger tournament in Manila and her first-round departure from the Australian Open last month. The young athlete expressed gratitude for the growing fan support, noting, ‘I’ve been competing before increasingly larger audiences recently and I’m gradually finding my rhythm. I truly value all the fans who attend with their families, particularly on weekdays.’
Following her match, Eala received special recognition from Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, the Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, highlighting the significance of her representation on the international stage.
In other tournament action, seventh-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia engaged in a dramatic three-set battle against Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva, ultimately prevailing 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. Meanwhile, Ukrainian player Dayana Yastremska delivered an upset by eliminating Brazilian star Beatriz Haddad Maia with a 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Tournament Director Nigel Gupta expressed enthusiasm about the event’s quality, stating, ‘Abu Dhabi witnessed another exceptional day of tennis. The strong attendance throughout the event has been tremendously encouraging, and particularly heartening to see numerous schoolchildren enjoying today’s matches. The draw produced an electrifying matchup between two immensely supported athletes, and while only one could emerge victorious, we extend our congratulations to Eala. We anticipate with great excitement what the remainder of the tournament will bring.’