Alex Eala defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 7-6(5) at the Dubai Tennis Championships to reach the round of 16 for the first time.
Eala won the opening set comfortably before facing resistance in the second. She held three match points at 5-3 but was taken into a tiebreak, which she won 7-5 to close the match in straight sets.
The result is Eala’s first top10 win of the 2026 season and the third of her career. It also marks her first appearance in the last 16 in Dubai.
Speaking after the match, Eala said the tiebreak was challenging.
“In the tiebreak I was trying everything to keep myself in check,” she said. “I was thinking about the crowd and how many Filipinos were supporting me.”
She added that the match carried a lot of pressure.
“The tension was high, especially in the second set,” Eala said. “She’s a top-10 player and a former champion here. Being able to compete at this level is important for me.”
With the win, Eala becomes the youngest Asian woman to record top10 victories in multiple WTA 1000 events.
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