Joselito Malig

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ABS-CBN News

<p>(3rd UPDATE) Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala pulled off a massive upset win over world no. 8 and former tournament champion Jasmine Paolini of Italy, 6-1 7-6 (7-5), to advance to the third round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday morning (Philippine time).</p><p>Eala showed dominance in the first set, before outlasting the tournament sixth seed Paolini in a hard-fought second set.</p><p>&quot;I’m really happy to have gotten through. She’s a great opponent obviously being top 10. To be able to compete with her at this level is a great achievement for me,&quot; Eala said after the match.</p><p>&quot;In the change events I was thinking this stadium is full of Filipinos,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Tapos sabi ko ilan kaya sa inyo ang nagdadasal para sa &#x27;kin? I thought, how many are probably praying for me to win so I really gave it everything I’ve got,&quot; Eala added.</p><p>The Dubai Tennis Championships is Eala’s sixth tournament of the year. </p><p>The world no. 47&#x27;s lone pro title so far is the WTA 125 title in Guadalajara last year.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C4SG9USU5aI??si=OHAHAEOTJjF6RSgU&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala pulled off a massive upset win over world no. 8 and former tournament champion Jasmine Paolini of Italy, 6-1 7-6 (7-5), to advance to the third round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday morning (Philippine time).</p>

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala pulled off a massive upset win over world no. 8 and former tournament champion Jasmine Paolini of Italy, 6-1 7-6 (7-5), to advance to the third round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday morning (Philippine time).

Alex Eala stuns world no. 8 Paolini to advance in Dubai Championships

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Alex Eala stuns world no. 8 Paolini to advance in Dubai Championships

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 18, 2026 02:16 AM PHT

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Updated Feb 18, 2026 02:40 AM PHT

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Alex Eala

tennis

Jasmine Paolini

Dubai Tennis Championships

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