Alexandra Eala produced a stunning display of resilience on Wednesday, February 4, rallying from the brink of defeat to reach the Abu Dhabi quarterfinals. The Filipina saved a match point and overturned a massive third-set deficit to stun Aliaksandra Sasnovich in a marathon contest.

The match stretched close to three hours and tested both players physically and mentally, with momentum swinging wildly throughout the encounter. Eala ultimately prevailed 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5), sealing one of the most dramatic victories of her professional career.

Sasnovich controlled the early stages of the match, using her experience to dictate rallies and disrupt Eala’s timing. The opening set slipped away from the teenager as she struggled to counter the Belarusian’s aggressive court positioning.

Despite the setback, Eala gradually adjusted her game, improving her depth and movement as the match wore on. Those changes began to pay off as the second set unfolded under increasingly tense conditions.

A nightmare start turns into belief

The decisive set appeared to be heading firmly in Sasnovich’s direction when Eala fell behind 4-0 in just 17 minutes. The Belarusian maintained relentless pressure, capitalizing on short returns and racing toward the finish line.

Sasnovich even earned a match point, putting Eala within a single rally of elimination. Refusing to fold, Eala reset mentally, slowed the pace, and began forcing longer exchanges that shifted the balance of play.

As errors crept into Sasnovich’s game, Eala clawed back games one at a time, feeding off the momentum of each hold and break. What once looked like a one-sided finish suddenly transformed into a tense, evenly contested battle.

Poise under pressure defines the finish

Eala’s refusal to panic carried her all the way to a deciding tiebreak, where every point carried enormous weight. She displayed remarkable composure, choosing high-percentage shots and trusting her legs in extended rallies.

The Filipina edged ahead in the breaker and never surrendered her advantage, closing out the match with a roar of emotion. Her 7-6 (5) tiebreak win capped a comeback that highlighted both her physical endurance and mental strength.

By saving a match point and overturning a 4-0 third-set deficit, Eala secured a place in the Abu Dhabi quarterfinals with one of the most memorable wins of the tournament. The performance further reinforced her growing reputation as one of the tour’s toughest competitors under pressure.