Alexandra Eala has continued her marvellous run at the Dubai Tennis Championships after defeating Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday.
Eala began the tournament by defeating an injured Hailey Baptiste before stunning sixth seed Jasmine Paolini on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Eala strengthened her Dubai title credentials, defeating the Transylvania Open champion [Cirstea] 7-5, 6-4.
What is the best win of Alexandra Eala’s career so far? 🤔
Iga Swiatek in Miami, Clara Tauson at the US Open, Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, or a different match?
In the next round, Eala will face third seed Coco Gauff, whom she has never faced before in a WTA Tour match.
Ahead of the contest, Eala reflected on her victory over Cirstea before reminding tennis fans of what they often forget about Gauff.
Alexandra Eala says tennis fans forget that Coco Gauff is only a year older than her
“Super special!” said Eala about the victory while speaking on-court. “Every round is such a battle and so filled with tension so I’m really happy with how I performed and really happy to be able to share it with all of you.”
“The key to today was staying calm and trusting my shots. I think I was very solid in particular moments where I needed to be. So yeah, that reflected in my performance and in the score, I guess.
Eala then commented on the area of her game that she relied on, adding: “I think stepping was one of the things we talked about and just being mindful of my legs more than anything.”
As has become customary during Eala’s matches on the Tour, the crowd were in full voice throughout the contest, cheering on their Filipina star after every point she won.
The 20-year-old was asked by the interviewer if she was aware of the impact she was having on her home nation of the Philippines.
“Somewhat,” Eala replied. “I’m aware of what happens over here, it’s basically the same thing I want to imagine!
“But yeah, the waves of support have made every single match all the more special, and it’s so difficult to describe the emotions and the actual experience of playing in front of this crowd. So I’m really grateful to be here.
As mentioned previously, Eala faces Coco Gauff in the next round. Gauff scraped through her round of 16 contest, saving three match points before beating Elise Mertens in three sets.
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of 2026?
Eala, who will play Gauff for the first time, was asked for the ‘key’ to the rest of her tournament.
The Filipina responded by admitting that she wasn’t entirely sure before expressing what onlookers often forget about Coco Gauff.
“Honestly, I don’t know!” Eala said. “I think that I’m on a good path and if I continue like this, the next match will be great. I’m looking forward to it.
“Coco [Gauff] is such an amazing person, and we tend to forget that she’s just a year older than me! But she’s a great role model for so many, so I’m really excited for that match.”
Eala, 20, is just under a year and two months younger than Gauff.
- Eala’s path to the Dubai title: Quarter-finals – Coco Gauff
- Semi-final – Elina Svitolina / Antonia Ruzic
- Final – Amanda Anisimova / Jessica Pegula / Clara Tauson / Mirra Andreeva
In her post-match press conference, Eala added: “Yeah, I think it’s a great opportunity for me [to play Gauff]. Win or lose tomorrow, I think it’s great for me to learn.
“Obviously, facing a player like Coco is something that people, like, would kill to do. In a quarterfinal here in Dubai, as well. So I’m super excited for that.”
Alex Eala’s excellent serving performance
Alex Eala’s serve may not be as powerful as those of her peers on the WTA Tour. However, Eala is certainly capable of maintaining consistency on the shot.
Against Cirstea, Eala made 69 per cent of her first serves, winning 67 per cent of those points. She also won, remarkably, 74 per cent of her second-serve points.
Comparatively, Cirstea made 55 per cent of her first serves, winning 64 per cent of those attempts. The Romanian also could not match Eala on her second serve, winning 52 per cent of those points.
Eala will need continued consistency on her serve if she is to defeat Gauff on Thursday. As for the American, she must improve upon her dire serving performance against Elise Mertens, in which she hit 16 double faults and made only 43 per cent of her first serves.
