HER live ranking may have dipped, but that is unlikely to dampen the excitement surrounding Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala when she arrives at the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Eala, 20, has slipped to No. 43 in the live WTA rankings after previously climbing to No. 40. Despite the slight drop, she remains one of the tournament’s most anticipated players. She is set to compete in the prestigious United Arab Emirates event from February 15 to 21 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium inside the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Garhoud, Dubai.
In her recent tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Doha, thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) turned out to support her, creating a vibrant, home-court atmosphere far from home. Even bigger crowds are expected in Dubai, which is home to a large Filipino community.
Fans are anticipated to bring a festive “barangay” spirit to her opening match, complete with energetic cheers, posters, and unwavering support from the stands.
Eala remains motivated despite a recent early exit at the Qatar Open, where she fell to Tereza Valentova in the first round, 6-7(6-8), 1-6. A large crowd stayed to watch and continued to support her even after the match.
“Salamat, mga kababayan. Talo ngayon, pero tuloy pa rin ang laban. Bawi tayo sa susunod,” Eala told fans who patiently waited for autographs and selfies long after her match ended.
She enters Dubai with a career-high official WTA ranking of No. 40, achieved earlier this season. Just two weeks ago, she reached the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open in singles and advanced to the semifinals in doubles alongside Indonesian partner Janice Tjen.
The Dubai tournament will also feature top-tier talent, including 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina and defending Dubai champion Mirra Andreeva, making for a star-studded field.
