In one of the most extraordinary and divisive decisions in modern tennis history, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has officially annulled the result of the quarter-final match between Alexandra Eala and Coco Gauff, retroactively awarding the semi-final spot to the 20-year-old Filipino rising star.

The announcement came late on February 26, 2026, in a hastily arranged press conference led by tournament CEO Salah Tala. Standing behind a podium flanked by WTA officials and tournament lawyers, Tala delivered the bombshell verdict with measured but unmistakable gravity:

“After consulting the WTA organising committee, all relevant stakeholders, and also taking into account the views of both players, we have decided to annul the result of the quarter-final match that had already been played and award the semi-final spot to Alexandra Eala instead of Coco Gauff. This is an unprecedented corrective measure at WTA 1000 level, but the fairness and integrity of the tournament must be protected above all else. Coco Gauff will receive compensation in ranking points and prize money equivalent to a semi-final finish.”

He then added the date for the rescheduled semi-final: Eala will face Elina Svitolina on February 28 at 7 p.m. local time, with the winner advancing to play either Iga Świątek or Jasmine Paolini in the final.

The ruling stems from a chair-umpire error in the first set that was captured on multiple angles and Hawk-Eye footage. The mistake — a wrongly called out ball on a crucial break point for Gauff — altered the momentum of the match, according to the official review panel. What made the decision historic is that the match had already concluded (Gauff won 7-5, 6-4), scoreboards had been updated, prize money disbursed, and ranking points allocated. Reversing a completed match at WTA 1000 level has never happened before.

Reaction was instantaneous and deeply polarised.

In the Philippines the decision was met with jubilation. Social media timelines filled with Philippine flags, crying emojis, and captions such as “Justice for Alex!”, “Long-overdue fairness”, “Our girl is finally protected!”. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. posted a personal message of congratulations: “Alexandra Eala continues to make the nation proud. This is a victory for integrity and for every young Filipino dreamer.” Major broadcasters interrupted programming to break the news live. In Manila, Quezon City and Cebu, impromptu watch parties formed in malls and public squares.

Eala herself, who had already flown to her off-season training base in Europe, appeared via live video link at the press conference. Visibly emotional, she spoke briefly:

“I never asked for this. I only asked for what was right on court. Thank you to the tournament, to the WTA, and to everyone who believed the truth mattered more than the result. I will play the semi-final with everything I have — for the Philippines, for my family, and for every athlete who has ever felt a call went against them.”

Meanwhile in the United States, the mood was very different. Gauff’s supporters and many neutral analysts branded the decision “an unprecedented abuse of power”. Social-media posts accused the tournament of “bending the rules to create a story”, “caving to regional pressure”, and “damaging the credibility of the entire WTA Tour”. Several prominent American tennis voices — including former players and commentators — argued that once a match is finished and the handshake completed, the result should stand regardless of later discoveries. “You can’t rewrite history because someone cries foul after the fact,” one well-known analyst tweeted.

Gauff herself issued a 15-word statement three hours after the announcement that instantly went viral:

“I respect the process, but this sets a dangerous precedent. I earned that semi-final on court.”

The sentence was short, measured, and devastating in its implication. Within minutes #DangerousPrecedent and #GauffRobbed were trending in the US, while #JusticeForAlex trended globally. The divide was stark: Filipino and Southeast Asian fans celebrated; American and many European fans cried foul.

The WTA issued a carefully worded release supporting the Dubai decision but stressing it was “exceptional and not intended to set precedent”. Yet insiders admit privately that the move has created a Pandora’s box. What happens the next time a player believes a call changed a match? Will every close loss now trigger video-review demands and legal threats? The association is already bracing for a flood of similar appeals.

Tournament CEO Salah Tala defended the ruling in a follow-up interview:

“We did not take this decision lightly. The evidence was undeniable, the error was decisive, and both players were consulted. Fairness must always come first — even when it is uncomfortable.”

Behind the scenes, sources say Gauff was offered the semi-final points and prize money (approximately $120,000 + 390 ranking points) immediately, but she initially declined, insisting the result should stand. She later accepted after discussions with her team and the WTA, reportedly to avoid further escalation.

For Eala, the decision is bittersweet. She gains a semi-final spot and a chance to reach her first WTA 1000 final, but many feel the shadow of controversy will follow her. “I didn’t ask for a walkover,” she posted on Instagram hours after the announcement. “I asked for fairness. Now I just want to play.”

As the tennis world digests the unprecedented ruling, one thing is certain: Dubai 2026 will be remembered not for who won the title, but for the day a completed match was erased — and the sport’s rulebook was rewritten in real time.