Alex Eala has a 2-2 record against WTA top-10 opponents, with world no. 8 Jasmine Paolini being her highest-ranked opponent since the Madrid Open last year.
Alex Eala is in for a fight when she takes on Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Eala made it to the second round of the WTA 1000 joust by scoring a victory over Hailey Baptiste after the American was forced to retire in the second set.
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At the time of stoppage, Eala was leading the match 6-4, 0-1.
Against Paolini, Eala gets a rare challenge: facing a top-10 opponent.
Paolini is currently the WTA world no. 8 and will be Eala’s first top-10 opponent since Iga Swiatek last year in Madrid.
Eala has a 2-2 record against top-10 opponents, with three matches played in that breakthrough Miami Open run.
The Filipina ace scored her first victory against a top-10 player when she beat then world no. 5 Madison Keys, followed by a two-set upset of Swiatek, who was no. 2 during their initial Miami matchup.
Eala lost to no. 4 Jessica Pegula in the Miami semifinals, before Swiatek got her win back at the Madrid Open.
Paolini is also the no. 6 seed in Dubai and received a bye in the first round.
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Alex Eala record vs. top-10 opponents
vs. Iga Swiatek (2) — 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 (Madrid Open R64)
vs. Jessica Pegula (4) — 6(3)-7, 7-5, 3-6 (Miami Open semis)
vs. Iga Swiatek (2) — 6-2, 7-5 (Miami Open quarters)
vs. Madison Keys (5) — 6-4, 6-2 (Miami Open R32)