SEEMINGLY playing in home court with a huge Filipino crowd in Dubai, Alex Eala frustrated world no. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 7-6(5), to move into the Round of 16 of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships early Wednesday morning, Manila time, at the Center Court of the DDF Tennis Stadium.
The 20-year-old rising star, WTA no. 47, banked on a strong start against the Italian veteran, winning the first set in 25 minutes by converting two break points and firing two service aces.
She carried that momentum into the second set to dictate the pace and leave the sixth-seed trailing, leading to a matchpoint 5-3, before the veteran turned it around to tie at 5-5. Paolini then took first lead at 5-6 which Eala eventually saved, 6-6, to force a tiebreak.
READ: ‘Eala effect’: Pinoys take pride in seeing PH flag in Dubai
Winners traded at the tiebreak 4-4, before Eala picked up momentum again to win race and avoid a decider, 7-6(5), in the match that lasted an hour and 40 minutes - a day after she was named co-athlete of the year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
She will next face Romanian Sorana Cirstea, WTA no. 32, in the Round of 16. It will be their second meeting, as Eala lost to Cirstea in 2024 at the Madrid Open, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6.
Paolini, who exited in the Round of 16 last year, is a WTA 1000 tournament champion in 2024.
While it was their first meeting in singles, Eala previously suffered a quarterfinal loss to Paolini and Sara Errani in May 2025 when she partnered with Coco Gauff at the Italian Open.
This is Eala’s sixth tournament of the year and, so far, her best run in a 1000-level event as she continues her search for her first WTA Tour title.
In a span of two months, Eala competed in the ASB Classic, Australian Open, Philippine Women’s Open, Abu Dhabi Open, and Qatar Open.
Paolini now joins the growing list of Eala's Top 20 opponents, alongside Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, and Clara Tauson, among others.
The same “giant-slayer” narrative earned her a spot in the Top 100 during last year's dream run at the Miami Open.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
