ABU DHABI, UAE — Russian tennis star Ekaterina Alexandrova has officially secured her return to the world’s top 10 following a dominant performance at the 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. The No. 2 seed advanced to the semifinals on Thursday, February 05, 2026, after defeating rising Filipina talent Alexandra Eala in straight sets.
Dominant Quarterfinal Victory
Alexandrova, currently ranked No. 11 but projected to rise following this week’s results, proved too powerful for the 45th-ranked Eala. The Russian veteran secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory in just under 90 minutes. Despite Eala’s resilient form earlier in the tournament—which included a miracle comeback from 4-0 down in the previous round—Alexandrova’s aggressive baseline play and superior serve dictated the pace of the match.
With this win, Alexandrova improves her 2026 campaign and sets up a high-stakes semifinal clash against American Hailey Baptiste, who is currently ranked 56th. The other semifinal features third seed Clara Tauson taking on Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek.
Career Milestones and Statistics
The 31-year-old Alexandrova, born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, continues to build on a highly successful professional career. Known for her flat, powerful groundstrokes and high-risk aggressive style, her career statistics reflect her status as a consistent threat on the WTA Tour:
- Career Titles: 15 total titles (including 5 WTA Tour and 3 WTA 125 singles titles).
- Service Efficiency: Alexandrova wins approximately 73.7% of her service games and is known for a high ace count, recording 118 aces in the 2025 season alone.
- Defensive Prowess: She maintains a strong breakpoint defense rate of 58%.
- Physical Profile: Standing at 5′ 9″, the right-handed baseliner has reached a career-high ranking of world No. 10, a position she is set to reclaim this week.
Looking Ahead: Abu Dhabi Semifinals
As the highest remaining seed in the bottom half of the draw, Alexandrova enters Friday’s semifinal as the heavy favorite. Analysts suggest her experience in high-pressure Middle East swing matches gives her a distinct advantage over the younger field remaining in Abu Dhabi. A title win this weekend would mark her first major trophy of the 2026 season and solidify her standing among the elite top 10 players globally.
The semifinal match against Hailey Baptiste is scheduled for Friday, February 06, 2026. Fans can follow the live progressive scores and expert analysis via the official WTA channels.