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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala extends Dubai run, faces Coco Gauff in quarterfinals

Alex Eala extends Dubai run, faces Coco Gauff in quarterfinals

Published Feb 19, 2026 05:30 am

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala arranged an exciting quarterfinals duel against American world No. 4 Coco Gauff after dispatching Romania's Sorana Cirstea, 7-5, 6-4, early Thursday in the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Alex Eala roars past Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16. (Photo from Eala's Instagram)
Alex Eala roars past Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16. (Photo from Eala's Instagram)
Alex Eala arranged an exciting quarterfinals duel against American world No. 4 Coco Gauff after dispatching Romania's Sorana Cirstea, 7-5, 6-4, early Thursday, Feb. 19, in the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Ranked No. 47 and cheered by a large Filipino crowd, the Filipina ace broke free from a 5-5 deadlock in the first set and made use of an excellent return game in the 11th game to take the advantage which she never relinquished.
Fortunately enough, Eala also capitalized on Cirstea's unforced errors, with the 35-year-old veteran unable to keep her rhythm going as the former ultimately avenged her three-set defeat to the world No. 32 in the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open.
With the victory, Eala takes on Gauff, who stormed back against Elise Mertens, 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3, in their round of 16 encounter.
This will be Eala's second quarters appearance in a WTA 1000 event after making history in the Miami Open last year.
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