By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Filipino Alexandra Eala ousted Italian sixth seed and world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 7-6 (5), in the second round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships early Wednesday (PH time) at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre in the United Arab Emirates.
Eala, who previously reached a career-high world No. 40, will next battle Sorana Cirstea of Romania, who eliminated No. 10 seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-4.
Meanwhile, top seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan downed Kimberly Birrell of Australia, 6-1, 6-2, to advance against Antonia Ruzic of Croatia, who rallied past Anastasia Zakharova of Russia, 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-1.
Second seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States walked over Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic to advance against Indonesian Janice Tjen, who pulled off a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
Magda Linette of Poland shocked No. 8 Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, to reach the third round. She will battle No. 12 Clara Tauson of Denmark, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Peyton Stearns of the US.
Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula also secured seats to the round of 16.
No. 3 Gauff defeated Anna Kalinskaya, 6-4, 6-4, to advance against Elise Mertens of Belgium, who stunned No. 14 Emma Navarro of the US, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 4 Pegula trounced Varvara Gracheva of France, 6-4, 6-0, to set up a meeting with compatriot Iva Jovic, who survived Diana Shnaider, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
Other winners were No. 5 Meera Andreeva, No. 7 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, No. 9 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Jaqueline Cristian of Romania. (PNA)
