Alex Eala's epic comeback in Abu Dhabi ignites passionate Pinoy support

Dubai, United Arab Emirates —“Ecstatic” could not have been a better word to describe the Filipino crowd who packed the 5,000-seater International Tennis Complex (ITC) at the Zayed Sports City (ZSC) to cheer on Alexandra Eala as she battled it out against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on February 4, 2026.

But it explains it all in a nutshell.

Eala fought back from 4-0 down in the deciding set, with the crowd's roaring support spurring her on through a dramatic tiebreak victory that secured her place in the quarterfinals.

“The support is really great (in Abu Dhabi),” said Eala following her victory.

"I've been in a lot of positions before with a lot of people, but this year has really stepped up a notch. With every match I play in these environments, I'm learning to have fun and enjoy it," she said.

"What's special here is seeing the crowd get excited, and knowing there are so many Filipino expats in the region who come together for moments like this. It's a platform for them to celebrate and share in something they're excited about. I'm really grateful for that support," she added.

‘Goosebumps’

Junal Abdullah A. Lami-in, a banker who came to watch with his 18-year-old daughter, said the game gave him “goosebumps.”

The last two minutes were a “real nail-biter,” he said.

“Honestly, it's been ages since I saw a game this intense, where I was practically holding my breath every time they hit the ball. I was even thinking, ‘No way Alex can pull this off,’ especially when Sasnovich was up 4-0," Lami-in said.

"But bam! What I thought was a sure loss totally flipped! Watching from afar, you could just see her pushing herself to the limit, like she was powering up, you know, like that ‘kamehameha’ thing from Dragon Ball Z. Then, in just a few minutes, boom! She beat her opponent and won," he added.

‘Epic’

“It’s an epic match,” says graphic designer, Mauricio Jaramilio, who watched with his wife.

“It was nerve-wracking for most of the Pinoy because Sasnovich’s gameplay was unorthodox, and she is tough too, a seasoned veteran. But our Alex won it inch by inch to clinch that comeback win. Pure grit, people cheering her 'Laban lang Alex' (Fight on, Alex!). When she was down, kabado ang lahat (Everybody was a bundle of nerves),” he said.

"The crowd… was actually one of the biggest talking points, the atmosphere was very loud, energetic, and emotional," his wife, Marjorie, said.

“Super kainit ang cheer ng mga Pinoy during the game,” said healthcare worker Sheryl A. Palacios-Manalo. (The Filipinos’ cheer during the game was super hot.) “It makes you proud being Pinoy here in Abu Dhabi because of Alex Eala. Since the Pacquiao era, no Filipino athlete has captured the nation’s collective spirit in the same way as Alex Eala did," she added.'

‘Electric’

“Yung crowd was loud, loyal, absolutely electric, and of course proud. Bawat puntos ay sinasabayan ng dagundong ng hiyawan, ‘Let’s go Alex!’ or ‘Laban Alex,’ na para bang nagtipon ang buong (Filipino) diaspora sa iisang arena,” Manalo said.

(A thunderous exclamation of approval met every point (Eala) made, ‘Let’s go Alex!’ or ‘fight on, Alex.’ It seems the whole (Filipino) diaspora came together in one arena.)

“Basta, iba ang feeling. Pampawala ng stress sa mga negatibong news ng ating bansa.” (The feeling was different. It relieves you of the stress watching the news from home.)

Manalo said they heard it was the first time ITC was that full.

Ledor Rodel Mendoza, an IT specialist for the Abu Dhabi government, gave a blow-by-blow account.

“Makikita mo yung excitement ng mga kababayan natin. Bagamat mabilis nakauna sa unang set ang kalaban nya at naunahan pa rin sya sa pangalawang set, masigla at patuloy na cheer kay Alex. Around 90 percent ng audience ay Pilipino, tayo lang pumupuno ng arena,” Mendoza said.

Tensed'

“’Pag may pagkakaton na breaktime, the whole stadium ay nagtsi-cheer ng ‘Go Alex, let’s go! And nag-wave din ang mga kababayan natin. Yung huling set na, standing ovation na mga Pilipino fans ni Alex, matindi ang tension sa mga huling set, makapigil-hininga. Ang galing ng fighting spirit ni Alex. Pero nang makuha na ni Alex ang huling puntos na tumapos ng laban, dumagundong ang hiyawan ng mga Pinoy. Isang napakagandang laban," he added.

(You can see the excitement of our countrymen. There was good cheering despite her opponent having beaten her in the first and second rounds. Around 90 percent of the audience were Filipinos, and we filled up the whole arena. During breaktime, the whole stadium would cheer her, “Go Alex, let’s go!” Our
compatriots also did the wave. The final set sent Filipinos standing, the tension was immense, you could hold your breath and not notice it. Alex’s fighting spirit was great. When she got the final points, the Filipinos let out a resounding applause and screams. It was a good match.)

The crowd was so loud during the game that Mendoza said it looked like you were watching a basketball match.

“Hindi umubra ung mga placard ng marshals na keep quiet, until may nag-announce na sa mic na bawal po sumigaw kasi nadi-distract ang players,” he said.

(The marshals tried placards telling the crowd to stay quiet because they were distracting the players, but that did not work. It took someone with a microphone to make it happen.)

Meanwhile, on Thursday night, Eala lost to Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-3, 6-3.  Eala will continue her Middle East swing after clinching a spot in the Qatar Open main draw, which will run from February 8 to 14.—LDF, GMA Integrated News