Alex Eala tests herself against another WTA top-10 player, taking on world no. 8 Jasmine Paolini in the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Alex Eala braces for her biggest test of the 2026 season as she takes on world no. 8 Jasmine Paolini in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Round of 32.
The showdown is set for 12:10 a.m. on Wednesday (PH time).
The Filipina ace enters the clash looking to make a statement in her second WTA 1000 appearance of the year after an early exit in Doha.
Eala opened her Dubai campaign with a 6-4, 0-1 (ret.) win over qualifier Hailey Baptiste, taking the first set before Baptiste was forced to retire due to injury.
[RELATED: Alex Eala wishes injured Hailey Baptiste well after Dubai Tennis Championships match]
Now, a much steeper challenge awaits.
Eala owns a respectable 2-2 record against WTA top-10 players, highlighted by breakthrough victories at the Miami Open last year over then-no. 5 Madison Keys and world no. 2 Iga Swiatek.
She later bowed to then-world no. 4 Jessica Pegula in a gripping three-set semifinal in Miami, while Swiatek avenged her loss in a subsequent meeting in Madrid.
Standing in Eala's way now is Paolini, who reached the singles Finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2024. The Italian star is also the 2024 Dubai champion, one of her three singles titles.
Paolini is also a proven doubles force, owning a French Open title and an Olympic gold medal in the discipline.
For Eala, the mission is clear: topple another elite name and turn her split record against the sport’s best into a winning one.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]