In front of a packed Stadium Court at Zayed Sports City, Filipina star Alex Eala once again delivered for the fans, closing day 3 of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open with a confident straight-sets win over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez. The 20-year-old looked composed throughout the match, continuing to find her rhythm as she played in front of growing crowds around the world, mostly OFWs.
After the victory, Eala shared how much she appreciates supporters who come out to watch her, especially families making time on a Monday night. She later met with the Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, marking another special moment in what has been an exciting week for the young rising star.
Eala’s performance was the highlight of a busy day at the tournament, which saw large crowds flock to Zayed Sports City. Nearly 2,900 students from 41 schools also attended through the event’s free-entry initiative for children, adding to the lively atmosphere both on and off the court.
Mubadala’s Electric Crowd
Tournament Director Nigel Gupta praised the strong turnout and energy around the venue, noting how rewarding it was to see so many schoolchildren experiencing live tennis. He also congratulated Eala on her win and shared his excitement for the rest of the week’s matchups.
Away from the main court, fans and families enjoyed a full day of activities around the Tournament Village, from mini tennis games and roller skating performances to relaxed outdoor spaces in the sun. Students also had the chance to take group photos with France’s Kristina Mladenovic, while five-time WTA title winner Leylah Fernandez connected with fans during a Q&A session in the Hospitality Pavilion.
Other Matches on Day 3
Earlier in the day, the tennis action delivered plenty of drama. Former World No. 2 Paula Badosa was knocked out in a three-set battle by Aliaksandra Sasnovich, while qualifier Sara Bejlek defeated last year’s finalist Ashlyn Krueger in straight sets. One of the closest contests saw Indonesia’s Janice Tjen overcome Maya Joint in three sets, with Tjen later sharing how meaningful it was to hear Indonesian fans cheering her on in her own language during her first visit to Abu Dhabi.
The evening session brought another comeback, as Jelena Ostapenko rallied from a set down to beat Oksana Selekhmeteva. Ostapenko later described the UAE as one of her favorite places to play, praising the atmosphere inside the stadium.
Next Matches
Looking ahead to Tuesday, fans can expect more exciting matchups, including Ludmila Samsonova versus Janice Tjen on Stadium Court, an all-American clash between Hailey Baptiste and Emma Navarro, and a doubles showdown featuring Alex Eala and Janice Tjen against Leylah Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic after 6:30 pm on ADCB Court 1.
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open runs through 7 February 2026, blending WTA 500 tennis with community initiatives such as the Road to MADO youth pathway finals and the tournament’s inaugural wheelchair tennis invitational, presented by the WTA Foundation.
Tickets are available now via Platinumlist.
