Alex Eala will hope to keep her winning run going in the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Rising Filipina star Alex Eala braces for her toughest test yet when she faces world No. 4 Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday night, February 19 (PH time).
The match fires off at 11 pm at Center Court.
Fresh off a statement win, Eala enters the showdown riding momentum after a gritty 7-5, 6-4 victory over veteran Sorana Cîrstea.
The 20-year-old showcased poise beyond her years, fending off a late rally and feeding off strong Filipino support to seal the straight-set triumph.
That composure will be crucial as Eala takes on her second Top 10 opponent of the tournament.
Standing in her way is Gauff, the reigning French Open champion, who advanced after a dramatic comeback win over Elise Mertens, 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3 in the Round of 16.
Though only a year older than Eala, Gauff already owns an elite résumé.
She famously burst onto the scene by stunning Venus Williams at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old, then captured her first major at the US Open in 2023 before defeating Aryna Sabalenka for the Roland-Garros crown last year.
For Eala, the match presents another opportunity to prove she belongs among the sport’s elite.
A win would send her into the semifinals against either Elina Svitolina or Antonia Ruzic, and further cement her breakthrough run in Dubai.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of One Sports Digital with the help of AI and reviewed by editorial staff for accuracy.]