In a dramatic turn of events at the WTA1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra Eala secured her spot in the second round after her opponent, American qualifier Hailey Baptiste, was forced to retire due to an injury. The match took place early Monday, February 16, 2026, at the prestigious Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai.
Match Details and Injury Setback
Eala had taken a strong lead, winning the first set with a score of 6-4. However, the momentum shifted when Baptiste, currently ranked World No. 45, began to struggle physically. As the second set commenced with Eala trailing 0-1, Baptiste made the difficult decision to retire from the match, immediately receiving medical attention on the court.
Upcoming Challenge Against Paolini
With this victory, Eala now sets her sights on a formidable opponent in the next round. She is scheduled to face sixth seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who enjoyed a first-round bye, setting the stage for an intense showdown in the tournament.
Other Notable First-Round Results
The opening round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships saw several other thrilling matches and victories:
- Kimberly Birrell of Australia battled past Tatjana Maria of Germany with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, advancing to face top seed Elena Rybakina.
- Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic displayed dominance with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, setting up a second-round clash with No. 2 Amanda Anisimova of the USA.
- Magda Linette of Poland overcame Lulu Sun of New Zealand in a hard-fought match, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, to prepare for a meeting with No. 8 Ekaterina Alexandrova, a recent runner-up at the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open.
- Janice Tjen of Indonesia secured a convincing 6-4, 6-1 victory over Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, advancing to face Leyla Fernandez of Canada, who earlier ousted No. 13 Ludmila Samsonova in a tight contest.
Additional Winners in the First Round
Other players who triumphed in their opening matches include No. 10 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, Elise Mertens of Belgium, Peyton Stearns of the USA, Ella Seidel of Germany, and Diana Shnaider of Russia, all showcasing their skills and determination in this high-stakes tournament.
