ALEX Eala marched into the Round of 32 of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after Hailey Baptiste retired while trailing, 6-4, 0-1, due to a health issue late Monday night (Manila time).
The 20-year-old Filipina was in control of her opening match in the WTA 1000 event. Although the American world No. 39 won the first game of the second set, she retired soon after just 57 minutes into the match.
READ Eala joins Sabalenka, Gauff in stacked Dubai Open main draw
Baptiste, 24, was forced to quit due to what TV commentators termed was an 'abdominal issue.' Eala immediately approached Baptiste at the net to give her a hug.
Her second win in as many career meetings with Baptiste gave the world No. 40 a shot at world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini in the next round. The Italian drew an opening-round bye.
Eala, who beat Baptiste in the qualifiers of a WTA 250 tournament in Eastborne, broke loose from a 3-3 deadlock to surge ahead 5-3 before sealing it, 6-4.
Dubai is Eala's sixth tournament of the year since a semifinal exit at the ASB Classic in Auckland, a main-draw debut at the Australian Open, quarterfinal finishes at the Philippine Women's Open and Abu Dhabi Open, and a round of 64 exit in Doha.
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