The loudest cheers of the night did not come from Center Court.
They came from ADCB Court 1.
Alex Eala, teaming up with Janice Tjen, delivered one of the most thrilling moments of Day Three at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. Facing Leylah Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic, the young Filipina fought through a tense doubles battle that went all the way to a super tiebreak.
It was the kind of match that makes you forget to sit down.
Point after point, momentum shifted. Long rallies tested patience. Every winner was met with roars from the crowd. When Eala and Tjen finally sealed the victory, the stands erupted. It was not just another doubles win. It felt like a shared moment between players and fans, especially for Filipinos watching proudly from the sidelines.
Eala continues to prove that she is not simply present on the WTA stage. She is competing. She is winning. And she is steadily building something special.
Singles battles light up Zayed Sports City
Earlier in the day, seven-time WTA title winner Liudmila Samsonova showed her experience, defeating Janice Tjen in straight sets.
McCartney Kessler followed with a statement victory of her own, knocking out reigning Mubadala Citi DC Open champion Leylah Fernandez in convincing fashion.
As evening fell, Stadium Court hosted an all-American clash between Hailey Baptiste and Emma Navarro. After a physical three-set battle, Baptiste powered through to secure her spot in the quarter finals.
After the match, she shared her excitement with fans.
“It feels really good to progress to the quarters. The atmosphere was great, and there are even fans here from back home in Washington DC, which is awesome.”
More than tennis, inspiring young fans
Away from the courts, the tournament continued to connect with the community.
Students enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at sports physiotherapy as Aliaksandra Sasnovich visited Healthpoint Hospital to learn more about injury prevention and recovery. She later took time for photos and meet and greets before joining students at Stadium Court to experience live tennis.
Nadiia Kichenok also stopped by the Healthpoint booth, taking part in a sports injury quiz, signing tennis balls, and posing for photos with fans.
The evening included a Special Olympics Clinic, while the Tournament Village stayed lively with music, activities, and smiling families filling the space.
Looking ahead
With Belinda Bencic set to make her tournament debut and Alex Eala preparing for her next singles challenge, excitement continues to build.
Wednesday also marks International Girls and Women in Sports Day, perfectly timed with a blockbuster Stadium Court schedule. Olympic gold medalist Bencic faces Sonay Kartal, followed by Eala taking on Aliaksandra Sasnovich as both chase quarterfinal spots in this WTA 500 event.
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open runs through 7 February 2026, blending elite tennis with youth programs, community initiatives, and the tournament’s first wheelchair tennis invitational.
Because here, it is not only about who wins.
It is about who inspires.
And judging by the growing Filipino cheers for Alex Eala, inspiration is already in full swing.
