Eala beats world No. 8 Paolini to progress to last 16 in Dubai

Filipino sensation Alexandra Eala overpowered world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 7-6(5) at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday night to secure her third career win against a Top-10 player and set up a last-16 clash with Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea.

Eala may currently be the highest-ranked Filipina in history at world No.47, but she clearly has no intention of settling into the spot for long. 

“I think today I came out on fire,” said Eala. “She’s a great opponent obviously being Top 10. To be able to compete with her at this level is a great achievement for me. She is an incredible fighter, to be sure, but I was very focused, and I was able to maintain that throughout the whole match. Every time the opportunity arose, I tried my best to be brave and go for my ball.”

In the second set, with Eala 5-3 up, a comfortable straight-set win looked certain. Yet a wobble saw the Filipina fail to convert three match-points in the ninth game before failing to serve out the match in the 10th. Paolini, buoyed and ready for battle, rallied to take the match to 6-5 and even twice had the chance to force a third set, but also failed to capitalise.

In the resultant tie-break, Eala upped her level once more to close it out and secure a monumental career win. 

“I looked up and there were Filipinos for days,” Eala said, smiling. “It’s really such a blessing to be able to play in these sorts of atmospheres. I am really privileged and thankful that I’m able to introduce this new sporting world—women’s tennis— to a new demographic. I think they’re really enjoying it and I hope it will inspire young girls and women of all ages to take up sports.”

Eala will return to Centre Court on Wednesday when she faces Cirstea, who earlier in the day beat Linda Noskova, 6-1, 6-4. “She’s a very experienced player and physically very fit,” said Eala of the Romanian. “I’m excited. Everybody at this stage really wants to continue, and I’m not an exception to that.”