Eala Advances to Dubai Second Round After Baptiste Retires Due to Injury

Sports | Tennis Posted on 2026-02-16 09:35:51

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis standout Alex Eala moved into the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships after American opponent Hailey Baptiste retired during their opening-round match held in the United Arab Emirates early Tuesday (Manila time).

Eala secured the first set, 6-4, in their Round of 64 encounter before Baptiste was forced to stop play after the opening game of the second set due to injury. The early retirement handed Eala a walkover victory, allowing the young Filipina to advance in the prestigious WTA tournament.

Despite progressing to the next round, Eala expressed concern for her opponent’s condition. In her post-match on-court interview, she acknowledged the physical demands of competing at the highest level of professional tennis.

“Obviously no one likes advancing in this way and being on Tour, I'm starting to discover on this level how difficult it is to maintain physically so I really hope that Hailey is okay and will bounce back soon,” Eala said.

The victory sets up a challenging second-round showdown for Eala. The world No. 40 is scheduled to face sixth seed and world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the Round of 32, a matchup that will test the Filipina’s form as she continues her campaign in Dubai.

NPO News Team!

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