Filipino favorite and wild card entrant Alex Eala seeks entry into the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open.
Alex Eala looks to keep her strong run going at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open as she takes on Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the Round of 16 on Wednesday evening (Manila time).
After a composed 6-4, 6-3 victory over Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye, Eala enters the matchup brimming with confidence as she continues to find her footing in her first WTA 500 campaign of the season.
[READ: Alex Eala sweeps tough Sonmez for winning start to Abu Dhabi Open]
Now ranked World No. 45, the Filipina has been steadily building momentum following her recent deep runs, and Abu Dhabi presents another chance to prove she belongs among the tour’s elite.
Standing in her way is Sasnovich, a dangerous and battle-tested Belarusian who forced her way into the main draw as a lucky loser—then made the most of it.
Sasnovich is coming off a statement win over Paula Badosa, pulling off a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 upset that showcased her shot-making and ability to seize big moments.
It will be the first-ever meeting between Eala and Sasnovich, adding another layer of intrigue to the contest.
For Eala, the challenge will be to stay composed and avoid becoming the next surprise victim, while leaning on the form and confidence that carried her through her opening-round win.
With a quarterfinal berth on the line, Eala faces a stern test—but also another opportunity to announce herself on one of the tour’s bigger stages.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]