Filipino supporters were already visible on the sidelines as Alex Eala began training in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open, with the young tennis standout sharing her arrival through the tournament’s official channels.
In a short video posted by the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Eala filmed herself courtside while Filipino fans cheered in the background. “Hi everyone, I am so excited to be back in the UAE, and I can’t wait to be back on the court, and I hope to see u there,” she said.
Tournament organizers also released a photo set featuring Eala posing with members of the Filipino community, highlighting the strong turnout of supporters early in the week. One of the event’s captions read, “All the love for Eala.”
Her appearance in Abu Dhabi comes shortly after her campaign at the 2026 Philippine Women’s Open ended in the quarterfinals, where she was eliminated by Colombia’s Camila Osorio last Thursday.
Eala enters the Abu Dhabi Open with a main-draw wild card, which she earned after climbing to a career-high singles ranking of World No. 49.
