Alex Eala’s run at the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open has come to an end after she fell to world No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-3, 6-3, at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.
Alexandrova Counters Every Eala Run
Playing less than a day after a draining three-set comeback victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Eala struggled to match Alexandrova’s power and consistency.
The Russian dictated the tempo early, racing to a 4-1 advantage in the opening set. The Filipina bet trimmed the gap, but the 31-year-old maintained control with booming serves and precise baseline hitting to secure the first frame.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Eala opened with a service hold and fought to stay within reach, even leveling the score midway through the set.
However, Alexandrova once again elevated her level at the crucial stretch, reeling off the final games behind relentless depth and experience to close out the match in just over an hour and a half.
Despite the defeat, the tournament marked a milestone for the 20-year-old, who reached the quarterfinal stage of a WTA 500 event for the first time in her career after earlier victories over Zeynep Sonmez and Sasnovich.
Alex Eala Next Tournament: Qatar Open
The Filipina ace will next continue her Middle East swing as she competes at the prestigious WTA 1000 Qatar Open beginning on February 8.
