Alex Eala advances to Round of 16 of Abu Dhabi Open after straight-sets win over Zeynep Sonmez 

Alex Eala didn’t just open her Abu Dhabi Open campaign with a win—she announced her presence with authority.

The newly crowned WTA No. 45 advanced to the round of 16 of the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open after dispatching Zeynep Sönmez, 6-4, 6-3, early Tuesday (Philippine time), turning a familiar matchup into another statement performance on a bigger stage.

The early exchanges hinted at a tight contest. Locked at 3-all in the opening set, Eala calmly shifted gears, tightening her service games and forcing Sönmez into longer rallies. From that moment on, the Filipina dictated the flow, winning four games in a row at one point and never relinquishing control of the match.

The numbers reflected that dominance. Eala won 71 total points to Sönmez’s 56, capitalized on six of 12 break-point chances, and claimed 35 receiving points, consistently pressuring her opponent’s serve.  

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Alex Eala wins, 6-4, 6-3, vs Zeynep Sonmez!

The victory was sealed in one hour and 29 minutes, sending the crowd into another round of cheers as Eala booked her place in r2 vs. world No. 109 Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Abu Dhabi Open pic.twitter.com/44rkjkLkkR

— Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) February 2, 2026

While neither player fired an ace, Eala’s edge came in execution—winning 64 percent of points on her first serve and 50 percent on her second, compared to Sönmez’s 48 and 40 percent, respectively.

Service efficiency proved decisive. Eala secured six service games and committed just enough under pressure to stay in rhythm, even as she navigated four double faults. Her ability to string together runs—winning up to four straight games and six consecutive points—kept Sönmez from finding any sustained momentum.

With the opening hurdle cleared, Eala now faces a sterner test. Up next is seasoned campaigner Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who authored one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by knocking out eighth seed Paula Badosa, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Eala’s day isn’t done yet. She is also slated to return to the court later Tuesday for doubles action alongside Indonesian Janice Tjen, where the duo will take on a formidable pairing in Leylah Fernandez—a Canadian star of Filipino descent—and Kristina Mladenovic, a multiple Grand Slam doubles champion.

For Eala, the opening-round victory was less about familiarity and more about evolution. Against an opponent she knows well, she showed that her rise up the rankings is now being matched by control, composure, and clarity on court—traits that could carry her deep into the Abu Dhabi draw.

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