Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala were two of the breakout stars on the WTA Tour and big things are expected of them in 2026.
Mboko won her maiden Masters crown at the Canadian Open and followed it up with a victory at the Hong Kong Open.
Eala’s season finished strongly with a SEA Games gold medal, which capped off a year which saw her reach the top 50 of the rankings for the first time, as well as the Miami Open semi-finals.
The rising pair have both signed up for a tournament that takes place at the end of January and the beginning of February.
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Victoria Mboko will join Alexandra Eala at the Abu Dhabi Open
Mboko has become the latest player to join the Abu Dhabi Open, which begins on January 31 and ends on February 7.
Speaking about her debut appearance at the tournament, Mboko said: “Breaking into the top 20 has been an incredible journey, and I’m really excited to be making my debut in Abu Dhabi.
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
“I’ve heard amazing things about the tournament, the facilities and the fans, and I’m looking forward to testing myself against such a strong field at the start of the season.”
Mboko joins two-time champion Belinda Bencic and Eala at the tournament that swiftly follows the Australian Open.
Bencic has won the tournament in 2023 and 2025, defeating Liudmila Samsonova and Ashlyn Krueger to lift the trophy.
The Swiss star is one of three winners of the tournament, which debuted on the WTA Tour in 2021. Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have also won the event.
The Abu Dhabi Open could affect Alexandra Eala’s debut in the Philippines
The WTA Tour have added a tournament in Manila for 2026, but Eala might not be able to compete at her home event.
What could stop Alexandra Eala from finishing 2026 inside the top 20?
The star’s progress at the Australian Open could hamper her, as the second week of the Grand Slam takes place at the same time as the Philippines tournament.
Additionally, the final of the Manila tournament takes place on the same day as the first round matches in Abu Dhabi.
Should Eala perform well at the start of the season, she could have to pull out of multiple tournaments in 2026.
