Alex Eala takes down Cîrstea, marches to Dubai quarterfinals

February 19 ------ Alex Eala's campaign in the Dubai Tennis Championships is still going strong. The Filipina tennis star marched to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament after a 7-5, 6-4 victory over veteran Sorana Cîrstea of Romania at center court in the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai.

It was yet another superb display for the 20-year-old, who showed great poise in the closing stretch of the second set when Cîrstea looked to be mounting a comeback. "The key to today was staying calm and trusting my shots," said Eala after the match. "I think I was very solid in particular moments where I needed to be, and I think that reflected in my performance and in the score."

The first set was a tense affair, with Cîrstea appearing to have taken control after holding for a 5-4 advantage. But Eala responded by holding to love in the next game to level the count, and then broke her veteran opponent in the ensuing game to seize the lead, 6-5. Eala quickly racked up three points in the 12th game, benefiting from a series of errors by Cîrstea. The Romanian, who is currently ranked 32nd by the WTA, saved back-to-back set points but committed another miscue that handed Eala the opening set after 54 minutes. With momentum firmly on her side, Eala won the first four games of the second set as Cîrstea continued to give away points off her errors, while the Filipina's forehand was repeatedly on target.

Cîrstea finally held to get on board, but Eala won a crucial sixth game on her serve for a 5-1 advantage that proved pivotal. The Romanian saved two breakpoints and went up a break on a forehand winner, but Eala stayed firm, converting a backhand winner for a deuce. From there, Cîrstea's errors would again doom her, keeping Eala in control. Cîrstea strung together three straight games to threaten at 5-4. Eala, however, would not be denied. She held to love in the 10th game, firing a forehand winner to punch her ticket to the next round. "Every round is a battle, so filled with tension," Eala said. "I'm really happy with how I performed, and I'm really happy to be able to share it with all of you."

The Filipina has enjoyed great support from her countrymen throughout her campaign in Dubai, and after her win over Cîrstea she was again effusive in her gratitude. "The waves of support have really made every single match all the more special," said Eala. "Salamat sa pagpuyat, mga kababayan. Uwi na tayo, tara."

Up next for Eala is a showdown with American star Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals. Gauff, currently the world No. 4, overcame great adversity in battling past Belgium's Elise Mertens in her own third round match, 2-6, 7-6 (11-9), 6-3. Afterward, Gauff had also thanked the fans who cheered her on. "I know you guys are probably here for Alex, so I'm sorry to make you wait," said Gauff, whose match against Mertens lasted two hours and 18 minutes. "But if I'm not mistaken, I think some of you guys are cheering for me so I appreciate it a lot."

It will be a match between former doubles partners, as Eala and Gauff had teamed up in the Italian Open last May 2025, reaching the quarterfinals. Eala advanced to the third round after a sensational triumph over world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini of Italy, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). In the first round, she progressed after her American opponent, Hailey Baptiste, retired with an injury.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com