Alexandra Eala fell at the quarter-final stages of the Abu Dhabi Open after losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The Filipina enjoyed yet another impressive run in 2026, after beating Zeynep Sonmez and Aliaksandra Sasnovich in Abu Dhabi.
Eala is also playing doubles with Janice Tjen and the pair are still going strong at the WTA 500 tournament.
However, Eala needs to desperately think about her consistent appearances in doubles if she wants to continue to surge up the rankings.
Playing doubles could cost Alexandra Eala’s singles ranking
Eala has consistently played doubles since bursting onto the scene on the WTA Tour and 2026 has been no different.
The star has already teamed with Iva Jovic at the ASB Classic, Ingrid Martins at the Australian Open, and now Tjen at the Abu Dhabi Open.
The star could be spreading herself thin by playing so many tournaments, and that’s been clear in Abu Dhabi.
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The star is scheduled to play doubles just two hours after her loss to Alexandrova, as she and Tjen look to try and reach the semi-finals of the competition.
With tournaments coming thick and fast, and Eala already confirming her place at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells, playing doubles could lead to burnout for the 20-year-old.
Eala has been widely-tipped to join the top 20 of the WTA Tour and there aren’t many players in the upper echelons of the women’s game who play as much doubles as the Filipina star has.
Only Jasmine Paolini has managed it at a consistent level due to her incredible partnership with player-coach Sara Errani.
If Eala truly wants to succeed at the top of the sport, she simply needs to stop playing so many tournaments.
Alexandra Eala’s long list of doubles partners
As well as Jovic, Martins, and Tjen, Eala has teamed with a whole host of players on the WTA and ATP Tour.
She played doubles with Renata Zarazua at Roland Garros, where she picked up her very first win at the Grand Slam.
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The star formed an all-star doubles team with Coco Gauff at the Italian Open, where the pair reached the quarter-finals of the Masters event.
At ITF level, Eala played with Frenchwoman Estelle Cascino, where they won doubles titles in Spain and reached a new ranking high.
During pre-season, Eala played her first-ever mixed doubles match alongside Juncheng Shang at the Macau Tennis Masters.
