Gauff Crushes Eala, Cruises Into Second Dubai Semifinal
By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, February 19, 2026
Photo credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Trampolining off the blue court in repeated kangaroo jumps, Coco Gauff was sky high during the pre-match coin toss.
An energized Gauff hit lofty heights soaring through 10 straight games bouncing Alexandra Eala in a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing to land her second Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semifinal.
A ruthless Gauff shredded Eala from the baseline, broke serve six times, showed her sharpest serving of the tournament—even holding serve through a four double-fault game—and needed just 67 minutes to dismiss the talented 20-year-old Filipina.
“It was a bit better today,” Gauff said of her level of play. “I served a little bit better. I made it in when it mattered.
“Alex is a tough competitor. Even when I was up I knew she could come back in any given moment. I’ve seen her do it before.
“I know you’re mostly supporting Alex, but I have to say it’s great to be on a crowded court. Seeing the stadium full it means a lot. Also, I’d like to thank Alex for bringing a new demographic to the sport. I really appreciate it. I think it’s great for the sport so keep being enthusiastic and keep rooting for your player.”
Continuing her quest for a 12th career title, Gauff joins compatriots Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula as the third woman through to the Dubai final four.
Earlier, Anisimova squandered a 5-3 third-set lead and a match point, then amped up the pace in the tiebreaker dethroning defending Dubai champion Andreeva 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) to battle into the Dubai semifinals.
The second-seeded Anisimova beat Andreeva for the second time in as many meetings.
Anisimova advanced to her first final four of the season, setting up an all-American semifinal against Jessica Pegula.
World No. 5 Pegula pumped eight aces in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over 12th-seeded Clara Tauson.
Though expectations were high for this first showdown between Gauff and Eala, the third-seeded American was even higher.
Perhaps the 47th-ranked Eala’s first mistake was winning the coin toss and electing to serve.
While you have to admire her confidence in her serve, the fact is Gauff was coming off a horrific 16-double fault showing yesterday.
Reigning Roland Garros champion Gauff fought off three match points in the tiebreaker and broke serve three times in a row to end a wild 2-6, 7-6(9) 6-3 comeback conquest of Elise Mertens yesterday, one round after coughing up 12 double faults in a 6-4, 6-4 win over Anna Kalinskaya in her opener.
Still, Eala opted to serve and paid the price. Gauff broke twice in a row then fired a forehand winner down the line holding at 15 for a 4-0 lead.
Initially, Eala was playing her lefty forehand down the line to Gauff’s weaker forehand wing.
However, the two-time Grand Slam champion was hitting her forehand with more control than she had against Mertens. Gauff earned triple break point in the fifth game and broke again at 15 for a 5-0 lead.
Serving for the set, Gauff navigated her only service game to reach deuce in the first set, whipped a forehand strike down the line and closed the opening set in 26 minutes on a return error.
Eala, who beat Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek en route to the Miami Open quarterfinals last March, was playing with taping wrapping her right thigh. Gauff was moving with more vigor and Eala may have been better off trying to play some drives deep down the middle to deny Gauff angles.
Instead Gauff continued carving up the 20-year-old breaking twice in a row for a 3-0 lead to start the second set.
To that point, Gauff was serving fine. Then, came a rupture.
Gauff coughed up four double faults in the fourth game yet still managed to hold on the strength of a fine angled backhand dropper extending her lead to 4-0.
Fifty-free minutes into the match, Eala drew a backhand error to finally snap her slide of 10 straight games and get on the board.
Fans roared and a good-natured Eala cracked a wide smile and waved a clenched fist, relieved to deny a potential double bagel.
That brief stand, combined with Gauff’s eighth double fault, helped Eala break for 2-4.
Shrugging it off, Gauff drained errors to break back for 5-2. Though the crowd kept roaring its support of Eala, Gauff played an inner mind game to shift support.
“Honestly, I had a similar match at French Open so I brought that mind-set today,” Gauff told the crowd afterward. “So whenever you guys were cheering for Alex I was pretending it was my name so I think that helped me a lot.
“If you can’t beat you guys, join them. I think the serve and just being confident with that shot [is key].
“Each match I’ve gotten better. One match can change anything. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be in the semis before it started, but I’m happy I’m here.”
On match point, Eala ended one of the longest exchanges of the match sending a forehand wide.
The 21-year-old Gauff will face Australian Open semifinalist Elina Svitolina for a spot in the final.
In the day’s final quarterfinal, Auckland champion Svitolina stopped the inspired run of Croatian lucky loser Antonia Ruzic 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 for her third semifinal of the season.
In Melbourne, Svitolina steamrolled a shell-shocked Gauff 6-1, 6-2 win charging into her her fourth Grand Slam semifinal in emphatic fashion.
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