Alexandra Eala has just mounted an absolutely epic comeback after saving a match point to edge out Aliaksandra Sasnovich 2-6 6-4 7-6 (5) in a two-hour and 51-minute Abu Dhabi round-of-16 marathon.
Sasnovich, who is ranked at No. 109 in the world and lost in the Abu Dhabi qualifying final round, entered the main draw as a lucky loser and upset Paula Badosa in the first round.
On Wednesday, the Belarusian claimed two breaks to routinely win the first set and she also broke the Filipina in the very first game of the second set.
Down by a set and a break, Eala – who started this week enjoying a new career-high ranking of No. 45 in the world – refused to quit as she took Sasnovich's serve in the second and 10th games to erase the deficit and force a decider. The stands were packed with the Filipina's supporters and the crowd went nuts after the 20-year-old forced a deciding set.
Just listen to that crowd 🔊
After losing the first set 2-6, Alexandra Eala forces a decider in Abu Dhabi 🚨
Who's winning this match? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/jF3GhZpbg9
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 4, 2026
Eala completes a remarkable third-set comeback in Abu Dhabi
After failing to get the job done in two sets, Sasnovich strongly bounced back by claiming back-to-back breaks and eventually opening a strong 5-2 lead.
With Sasnovich serving for the match, Eala faced a match point, but managed to save it. The Filipina then held to her service games before also getting the second break back in the 10th game to eventually force a tie-break.
In the tie-break, Sasnovich had another good chance to seal the win after going 5-4 up. But once again, the world No. 45 didn't allow that to happen as the Filipina won the next three points to complete her stunning deciding-set comeback.
It was the first meeting between the two.
In the Abu Dhabi quarterfinal, Eala will play against No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
