By Samantha Yu
MANILA — Pinay pride Alexandra Eala turned Stadium Court into her stage on a dramatic day at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Wednesday, pulling off a sensational comeback win against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich to advance to the quarterfinals.
The Filipina found herself staring at a 4-0 hole in the final set of a marathon match that stretched close to three hours. Refusing to back down, Eala rallied with renewed intensity as the crowd roared behind her, eventually prevailing 2-6, 6-4, 7-6, in a nerve-wracking tiebreak that capped one of the tournament’s standout moments.
“The energy here has been amazing,” Eala said after the win. “I’ve played with big crowds before, but this season feels like it’s gone up another level. I’m learning to enjoy these moments more, and it’s especially touching to see so many Filipinos in the stands. It becomes something we all share, and I’m very grateful for that.”
Earlier results saw Ekaterina Alexandrova overpower Dayana Yastremska in straight sets, while qualifier Sara Belem shocked the field by knocking out former finalist Jelena Ostapenko.
Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal also moved into the next round, beating Renata Zarazua in straight sets. Zarazua entered the tournament as a lucky loser following the withdrawal of defending champion Belinda Bencic due to illness.
The doubles quarterfinals featured Perez and Schuurs winning a dramatic super tiebreak over Alexandrova and Joint. Khromacheva and Klepač advanced after a hard-fought three-set contest, while Kenin and Krawczyk progressed without playing due to a walkover.
Nigel Gupta, Tournament Director at MARI, praised the day’s matches, singling out Eala’s performance. “What we saw today was women’s tennis at its best,” he said. “Alexandra’s comeback was spectacular and embodied the passion and excitement that define this tournament.” /ia
