Filipina tennis star Alex Eala set to join star-studded Mubadala Open in 2026 

Alex Eala is heading back to one of the stages that helped shape her rise — but this time, she returns not as a wide-eyed newcomer, but as one of the names fans will come to see. 

The 20-year-old Filipina sensation has officially been included in the early lineup for the 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a WTA 500 tournament running from January 31 to February 7 at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City.

For Philippine tennis, Eala’s participation reads like a full-circle moment. When she first played in Abu Dhabi in 2024, she was considered a promising junior-turned-pro.

 Two years later, she arrives as a Top 50 player and the highest-ranked Filipino in tennis history — the product of consistent breakthroughs, a polished all-court game, and the unshakable competitive edge she honed at the Rafa Nadal Academy. 

Her surge up the rankings, highlighted by a main-draw breakthrough season and her long-standing status as a former US Open girls’ champion, has made her one of the most compelling young athletes on the WTA Tour. 

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Belinda Bencic, Alex Eala among stars for Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. WTA 500 tournament will take place at Zayed Sports City from January 31 to February 7. @gulf_news @Mubadala @MubadalaWTC @WTA @EalaAlexandra https://t.co/HHDZAxL8yn pic.twitter.com/JnQUOLfDY7

— Gulf News Sport (@GulfNewsSport) November 25, 2025

Eala still remembers vividly what Abu Dhabi meant to her early climb. “Playing in Abu Dhabi in 2024 was such an amazing experience. The support from the Filipino fans and the incredible atmosphere really inspired me. 

‘I’ve been working hard and have learned so much since then, and I’m thrilled to be coming back stronger for the 2026 tournament. It’s an honour to compete alongside so many top players,” she said.

One of those players is the tournament’s most decorated figure: Belinda Bencic. The Swiss star, currently world No. 11, is returning to defend a title she has never lost. 

After winning in 2023 and again in 2025 — the latter in emotional fashion as she celebrated with her daughter Bella — Bencic arrives with a sense of unfinished business and renewed purpose following a strong post-maternity comeback that also included a recent triumph at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

“It feels amazing to be coming back to Abu Dhabi again as defending champion,” Bencic shared. “The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open is a special tournament for me — I’ve had some of my best memories here. The atmosphere is always incredible, and it means so much to return to a place where I’ve felt so much support from the fans. I’m looking forward to another great week of tennis in February.”

For Tournament Director Nigel Gupta, announcing Eala and Bencic as the first confirmed names sets an early tone for the event’s fourth edition. “Each year, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open continues to strengthen its position as one of the region’s premier tennis events, and we are delighted to welcome Belinda Bencic and Alexandra Eala as the first names confirmed for 2026. Belinda has a special history with this tournament, and her return as defending champion sets the tone for another thrilling edition.”

In its first few years, the tournament has established itself as one of the WTA Tour’s most dynamic stops — a blend of elite competition, fan-driven experiences, and Middle Eastern sporting energy. The 2025 event alone drew eight of the world’s top 20 players and record-breaking crowds, proof that Abu Dhabi has quickly become a major hub for women’s tennis.

Now, it’s Eala’s turn to step back onto the same stage — only this time, she arrives as a contender with momentum, a growing global following, and a nation ready to rally behind her once more.

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