Alexandra Eala will be looking to bounce back at the Dubai Tennis Championships after a disappointing start to the WTA 1000 series.
Eala crashed out in the first round of the Qatar Open earlier this week, losing to Tereza Valentova in straight sets.
The Filipino star has won seven matches so far this season and lost five, with a semifinal finish at the ASB Classic, and quarterfinal exits in Manila and Abu Dhabi.
Who is your favorite player – Alexandra Eala or Coco Gauff?
Let us know why in the comments!
She went out in the first round of the Australian Open, and again at the first WTA 1000 event of the year in Doha.
The second WTA 1000 competition of 2026 is now upon Eala in Dubai, where there is strong Filipino support.
Alexandra Eala discusses her huge fan base on the WTA Tour
At 20 years of age, Eala already has a bigger fan base than most stars on the WTA Tour, and the noise made in the stands during her matches at every tournament is noticeably different compared to others.
As per Gulf News, Eala said of her fans: “It means a lot, it makes me feel at home even though I’m travelling so many weeks of the year.
Who is your favorite player on the WTA Tour right now?
“I think this feeling is reciprocated for a lot of the Filipinos who are out here. I know there’s a huge population of them here in the Middle East.
“I think it means a lot for people to see themselves in other people, and that’s what makes this so special.”
Alexandra Eala’s first opponent at the Dubai Tennis Championships
Eala’s first-round opponent at the Dubai Tennis Championships comes in the form of American star Hailey Baptiste.
The two have clashed just once before on the WTA Tour, which came on the grass courts of Eastbourne last year.
There, in qualifying, Eala came back from a set down to open her account in the rivalry, winning 6-7, 7-6, 6-1.
Eala and Baptiste will now do battle for the first time on a hard court, as both women continue their pursuit of a maiden WTA 1000 title.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
