MANILA — Alexandra Eala pulled off the biggest upset of her young career after dismantling world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 7-6 (7), to book a place in the Round of 16 of the Dubai Tennis Championships early Wednesday (Philippine time) in the United Arab Emirates.
The 20-year-old Filipina, ranked No. 47 in the WTA, dominated from the opening game, overwhelming Paolini with aggressive shot-making and relentless court coverage to cruise through the first set.
Paolini, 30, mounted a strong comeback in the second frame, clawing back from a 3-5 deficit and briefly seizing a 6-5 lead to force a tense finish. But Eala held her nerve when it mattered most.
In a gripping tiebreak, Eala displayed remarkable composure, saving two set points and matching Paolini stroke for stroke before sealing the victory in one hour and 40 minutes — a landmark win over a reigning Top 10 player and former Dubai champion.
“Oh, I’m, you know, all the emotions are coming because the tension was so high, especially during that second set. So I’m, I’m really happy to have gotten through, you know, she’s a great opponent, obviously being top 10 and a former champion here. So to be able to compete with her at this level is, is a great achievement for me,” Eala said.
She credited the strong Filipino presence inside the stadium for pushing her through the decisive moments.
“In the tiebreak, I was trying everything to keep myself in check, and in the change events, I was thinking, you know, there, this stadium is full of Filipinos. So I really had to give everything I got,” she added.
With the win, Eala advances to a Round of 16 showdown against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who eliminated No. 14 seed Linda Noskova, 6-1, 6-4.
The match will be a rematch of their clash at the Madrid Open last year, where Cirstea edged Eala in a tightly contested three-set battle, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4./PN
