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Alexandra Eala Stuns World No. 8 Jasmine Paolini In Dubai Upset
Photo credit: WTA
Alexandra Eala has done it again—this time on one of the biggest stages in women’s tennis.
The young Filipino standout pulled off a commanding straight-sets win over Italian sixth seed and world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 7-6 (5), in the second round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships early Wednesday (Philippine time). The match unfolded at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre in the United Arab Emirates.
From the opening set, Eala showed confidence beyond her years, dismantling Paolini 6-1 with sharp returns and steady baseline play. The second set proved tighter, but Eala held her nerve in the tiebreak to seal one of the biggest victories of her career.
Eala, who previously climbed as high as world No. 40, now marches into the next round with momentum on her side. She is set to face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who earlier dispatched 10th seed Linda Noskova, 6-1, 6-4.
Elsewhere in the tournament, top seed Elena Rybakina cruised past Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, 6-1, 6-2, and will next meet Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, who outlasted Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova in three sets.
Second seed Amanda Anisimova advanced via walkover against Barbora Krejcikova and is slated to face Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, who eliminated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
Poland’s Magda Linette delivered a surprise of her own by knocking out No. 8 Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets. She moves on to face Denmark’s Clara Tauson, who defeated American Peyton Stearns.
American stars also made their presence felt. Third seed Coco Gauff booked her spot in the round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Anna Kalinskaya and will next take on Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who stunned fellow American Emma Navarro.
Fourth seed Jessica Pegula was equally dominant, sweeping aside France’s Varvara Gracheva to arrange an all-American clash with Iva Jovic.
Other seeded players advancing include No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, No. 7 Elina Svitolina, and No. 9 Belinda Bencic, along with Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
But for Filipino fans, the spotlight firmly belongs to Eala. With another upset under her belt, she continues to prove she can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best—and win.
The young Filipino standout pulled off a commanding straight-sets win over Italian sixth seed and world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 7-6 (5), in the second round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships early Wednesday (Philippine time). The match unfolded at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre in the United Arab Emirates.
From the opening set, Eala showed confidence beyond her years, dismantling Paolini 6-1 with sharp returns and steady baseline play. The second set proved tighter, but Eala held her nerve in the tiebreak to seal one of the biggest victories of her career.
Eala, who previously climbed as high as world No. 40, now marches into the next round with momentum on her side. She is set to face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who earlier dispatched 10th seed Linda Noskova, 6-1, 6-4.
Elsewhere in the tournament, top seed Elena Rybakina cruised past Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, 6-1, 6-2, and will next meet Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, who outlasted Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova in three sets.
Second seed Amanda Anisimova advanced via walkover against Barbora Krejcikova and is slated to face Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, who eliminated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
Poland’s Magda Linette delivered a surprise of her own by knocking out No. 8 Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets. She moves on to face Denmark’s Clara Tauson, who defeated American Peyton Stearns.
American stars also made their presence felt. Third seed Coco Gauff booked her spot in the round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Anna Kalinskaya and will next take on Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who stunned fellow American Emma Navarro.
Fourth seed Jessica Pegula was equally dominant, sweeping aside France’s Varvara Gracheva to arrange an all-American clash with Iva Jovic.
Other seeded players advancing include No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, No. 7 Elina Svitolina, and No. 9 Belinda Bencic, along with Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
But for Filipino fans, the spotlight firmly belongs to Eala. With another upset under her belt, she continues to prove she can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best—and win.
Feb 18, 2026
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