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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala battles world No. 8 Paolini in Dubai

Alex Eala battles world No. 8 Paolini in Dubai

Published Feb 16, 2026 02:14 pm

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala shoots for the stars when she guns for an upset win against world No. 8 Italian Jasmine Paolini in the second round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Alex Eala goes for an upset win over Italian Jasmine Paolini. (Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships)
Alex Eala goes for an upset win over Italian Jasmine Paolini. (Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships)
Alex Eala shoots for the stars when she guns for an upset win against world No. 8 Italian Jasmine Paolini in the second round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Fresh off a first round 6-4, 0-1 (ret) triumph over American Hailey Baptiste, the 20-year-old Eala looks to extend her brilliance on Dubai soil at the expense of veteran Paolini, who reigned in last year’s French Open doubles event alongside fellow Italian Sara Errani.
It would be the first encounter of unseeded Eala and Paolini, who received a bye in the opener, in the women’s professional scene with the former touted as an underdog.
“I’m happy to be in the next round. These tournaments are such a great experience for me, especially playing in front of the best crowd ever,” Eala said.
“I really doing my best to try [and] enjoy every moment I have on court. Everyone, Mabuhay, maraming salamat sa suporta at magkita tayo sa next round,” she added.
On stat sheets, Paolini is well ahead of Eala in many aspects, excluding first serve percentage and service games played.
The Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy native has won three singles titles and 10 doubles crowns in her career, highlighted by runner-up finishes at the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships, along with a gold medal at the Paris Olympics – all in a remarkable 2024 campaign.
Eala, on the other hand, has one WTA 125 crown off her supremacy in Guadalajara Open in Mexico last September and an emerging star in the distaff side thanks to her breakthrough in the Miami Open where she outlasted top players, including No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland.
Eala, currently No. 40 in the global rankings, had a quick route to Round of 32 after Baptiste sustained an apparent abdomen injury which was quickly checked by medical staff in their center-court matchup.
Despite a strong showing in the first game of the second set, Baptiste then decided to call it quits which put Eala back in the winning column.
Eala's Dubai stint served as her third competition in her Middle East Swing which she kicked off in Abu Dhabi early this month.
There, the 5-foot-9 lefty reached the singles quarterfinals and doubles semis with her Indonesian partner Janice Tjen.
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