Eala advances to Round of 16

Beats friend Sonmez in two sets; Sasnovich next

ALEXANDRA “ALEX” EALA rode on her new career-best ranking and another strong crowd support to drub good pal Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, 6-4, 6-3, for a rousing opener in the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

Showered by cheers and “Eala” chants by the Filipino audience in groves, the 20-year-old sensation banked on strong closeouts in both sets to complete the sweep in 89 minutes.

It’s the third win for Ms. Eala in as many games against Ms. Sonmez, 23, after previous wins in the 2023 W60 Nantes in France and the 2025 Eastbourne Open in England.

Both are good friends since their junior days with stints in the pro doubles play as well, making it a friendly battle won by now WTA No. 45 Ms. Eala to arrange a duel against the 31-year-old Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in the Round of 16.

Ms. Sasnovich, WTA No. 109, pulled off a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 stunner on world No. 65 and Abu Dhabi’s No. 8 seed Paula Badosa of Spain.

Game time is still to be determined on Wednesday depending on the results of Ms. Eala’s doubles campaign with Indonesian star Janice Tjen, WTA No. 47.

“Before I address of course this amazing crowd, I’m so honored to share the court with one of my closest friends, Zeynep. I admire her so much and she’s really making waves in so many ways,” said Ms. Eala, who’s coming off a quarterfinal finish in the Philippine Women’s Open.

“Our friendship goes beyond tennis and I’m so grateful for that.”

Aside from a Last 8 finish in first-ever pro home tournament, Ms. Eala also reached the final four of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, won an exhibition title in Kooyong Classic in Melbourne and made her Australian Open main draw.

And that momentum proved handy in the clutch against Ms. Sonmez.

Mses. Eala and Sonmez, WTA No. 79, looked on even field early in the duel before the lefty Filipina pride stamped her class in the homestretch by breaking away from a 4-3 cushion in the first then a 3-3 all in the second set.

Meanwhile, Ms. Eala’s doubles partner Ms. Tjen also scored a big upset on No. 29 Maya Joint of Australia, 7-6(7-6), 3-6, 6-3. It was Ms. Joint who denied Ms. Eala a title in the Eastbourne finals last year.

Mses. Eala and Tjen were to play WTA singles No. 25 Leylah Fernandez (doubles No. 68), with Filipino roots, and Kristina Mladenovic of France (doubles No. 49), in Round 1 at press time. — John Bryan Ulanday