By Tracy Cabrera
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Facing a dangerously skilled opponent in Italian-Ghanaian Jasmine Paolini known for her sharp ground strokes, Filipina sensation Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala overcame the odds as she beat the 30-year-old Italian in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Championships to book herself a place in the round of 16.
Eala frustrated the 2024 Wimbledon finalist right from the first serve as she sent the 5,000-strong crowd wild with her victory at the luxurious Aviation Club Tennis Center in the UAE’s famous shopping hub of Dubai.
The Filipina’s first breakthrough in the opening set came when she broke Paolini’s serve to give herself a 3-1 lead. This gave the 20-year-old confidence as she went on to win the next three games, hitting a notable ace in the final game of the opening set as she stamped her authority on the match.
After a disappointing first set, Paolini looked frustrated as she came out fast in the second with her serves consistently reaching the 150 kpm mark. The Italian took the first game but Eala held her own serve well and quickly replied to make it 1-1, with the momentum staying with the Filipino pride.
Eala really played great tennis this time and looked to keep the pressure firmly on her opponent as the third game went to deuce. Just as it looked like Paolini was going to claim the game as she took advantage, the Italian hit a double fault allowing her opponent a route back into the game which the Filipina took expertly to go 2-1 up.
Paolini looked rattled as Eala was playing perhaps some of the best tennis she has played so far this year. The youngster, 10 years Paolini’s junior, continued her surge in the second set winning the fourth game 40 love to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
With a two-game lead, everything looked as if it was Eala’s game to lose but Paolini showed her experience as she regrouped and won the next two games to take it to 3-3. But the Filipino idol didn’t let this knock her confidence, however, and showed incredible desire to break the Italian’s serve again to take the lead once more.
After winning the following game, Eala looked destined for the round of 16 but Paolini wasn’t going to make it easy for the fan favourite as she went on to win the next two taking it to 5-5.
But the momentum seemed to have shifted with Eala seemingly beginning to slightly tire as the more experienced Paolini made it 6-5, only for the world number 47 to take the game to a tie-break. Eala then went on to win 7-5 hitting a huge winning forehand joined by a huge scream as her outburst of emotion echoed around Centre Court.
Speaking after the match, Eala said that while she’s accustomed to strong support, this game felt different, the crowd lifted her on every single point and gave her an extra surge of energy throughout the match.
She enthused: “The stadium was so full tonight, I looked up at one point and there were Filipinos for days, it’s such a blessing to be able to play in those sorts of atmospheres.”
“I’m thankful that I’m able to introduce this sport to a new demographic, and you can tell they are really enjoying it so I hope it inspires people to pick up rackets.”
Eala will go into her round of 16 match against world no 32 Sorana Cirstea of Romania full of confidence following her win over Paolini who on paper is a much tougher opponent.
