Alex Eala’s Abu Dhabi run ends after gritty quarterfinal battle against Alexandrova
Alex Eala’s breakthrough run at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open came to an end after a hard-fought quarterfinal loss to world No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, but the Filipina teenager once again proved she belongs on the WTA stage.
![Alex Eala pushed a world No. 2 seed and showed why her rise is real. [photo credit: WTA Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot_631-400x200.png)
![Stephens prepares for a busy spring schedule following her return to competition. [photo credit: Sloane Stephens Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_564-400x200.png)
![Mirra Andreeva celebrates after securing the Adelaide International title. [photo credit: WTA Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_549-400x200.png)
![Alexandra Eala celebrates after securing her first win over Magda Linette at the ASB Classic. [photo credit: WTA Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_514-400x200.png)
![Former junior peers met for the first time, but Eala dictated every phase of the match on Thursday, January 8. [photo credit: ASB Classic Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_511-400x200.png)
![Elise Mertens [photo credit: WTA | Ashok Kumar]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Elise-Mertens-Credit_-WTA-_-Ashok-Kumar4-400x200.jpg)
![Anna Kalinskaya [photo credit: WTA | Ashok Kumar]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Anna-Kalinskaya-3-Credit_-WTA-_-Ashok-Kumar-400x200.jpg)
![Moyuka Uchijima & Yifan Xu [Credit: WTA | Ashok Kumar]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Moyuka-Uchijima-Yifan-Xu-Credit_-WTA-_-Ashok-Kumar-400x200.jpg)