Girl power: Eala, Tjen unite in Abu Dhabi Open

For the first time in their professional careers, Alex Eala and Janice Tjen of Indonesia will team up in the women’s doubles at the Abu Dhabi Open in the United Arab Emirates.

Eala and Tjen will join hands in the main draw as they face Filipino-Canadian netter Leylah Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic of France in the Round of 16 on Tuesday in a time yet to be announced at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

The 20-year-old tennis star recently reached her highest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rank at No. 45, while her Indonesian counterpart improved to No. 47.

Alyna Sabalenka of Belarus remains the top women’s tennis star despite losing her Australian Open title to world No. 3 Elena Rybakina of Ukraine, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Iga Swiatek of Poland remains at No. 2 while Amanda Anisimova of the United States sits at No. 4.

Eala, 20, is currently facing world No. 112 Zeynep Sönmez of Turkey in the Round of 32 at press time.

The product of the world-famous Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain said she is excited to play again in front of a huge Filipino crowd in the Middle East in this acclaimed WTA 500 event.

Eala recently played in the Philippine Women’s Open where she made it as far as the quarterfinal before losing to eventual champion Camila Osorio of Colombia, 4-6, 4-6.

“It's really nice because I'm here in a different spot than I was the last time I was here, which was two years ago. I've changed a lot, grown a lot and it's nice to see the welcome that I've had,” Eala told The National.

“There's a huge Filipino community here, so I'm so excited. They've come out and, if you look behind you, there's a lot of people, so I'm so excited to play.”

Eala last competed in the Abu Dhabi Open in 2024, where she suffered a 6-7, 1-6 loss to Polish netter Magda Linette in the Round of 32.

Since then, Eala slowly rose through the ranks and is now within the Top 50 of the WTA.

“It's really nice because I'm here in a different spot than I was the last time I was here, which was two years ago. I've changed a lot, grown a lot and it's nice to see the welcome that I've had,” Eala said.