Eala Records First Top-10 Win of 2026, Defeating Paolini in Dubai

Alexandra Eala’s Dubai debut is turning out to be a showstopping affair. The Filipina sensation battled past No. 8-ranked Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 7-6(5) to book a spot in the round of 16 on Tuesday, handling the pressure of a late push from the two-time major finalist and former Dubai champion, who saved multiple match points to push the second set to a tiebreak.

Eala held her ground from there, clinching the match much to the delight of her vocal fanbase in Dubai, who cheered the 20-year-old’s every move.

A new career-high ranking is on the horizon for Eala, who rises to No. 38 in the WTA live rankings with the win (from No. 47). She will face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16. Cirstea won the pair’s lone meeting in straight sets at Madrid in 2024.

In her first match against a Top-10 player this season, Eala earned her third career Top-10 win.

“All the emotions are coming, because the tension was so high, especially during that second set,” Eala said in her on-court interview. “I’m really happy to have gotten through. (Paolini) is a great opponent, obviously, being Top-10 and a former champion here, so to be able to compete with her at this level is a great achievement for me.”

Eala dominated the opening set, winning 86 percent of her first-serve points and breaking twice consecutively for 3-1 and 5-1. She had a break lead twice in the second set but was reeled back in by Paolini, who saved three match points while serving at 3-5 and then broke in the next game.

After two service holds, a tiebreak ensued and Eala took charge from 2-3 down, winning five of seven points to close out the win.

Alexandra Eala, to Date: 

• First Filipino Grand Slam Singles Junior Champion: Eala made history at the 2022 US Open, becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a junior Grand Slam singles title.
• Highest-Ranked Filipino in History: As of February 2026, she has reached a career-high of World No. 40 (currently at No.38 in the live rankings), shattering the long-standing record held by Cecil Mamiit (No. 72) to become the highest-ranked Filipino player in history.
• First Filipino to Reach a WTA 1000 Semifinal: Her Cinderella run at the 2025 Miami Open saw her become the first from her nation to reach the final four of a WTA 1000 event, a journey that included stunning wins over Major champions Iga Świątek, Jelena Ostapenko, and Madison Keys.
• First Filipino to Win a Grand Slam Main Draw Match: At the 2025 US Open, Eala became the first Filipino in the Open Era to record a match victory in a Grand Slam main draw, defeating 14th seed Clara Tauson in a three-set thriller.