Who is Jasmine Paolini? Alex Eala's Round of 32 foe at the Dubai Tennis Championships

A tough opponent is standing in Alex Eala's way in the continuation of her 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships campaign.

The Filipina tennis ace will lock horns with veteran Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the Round of 32 set at 12:10 a.m. on Wednesday (Manila time) as both players will meet for the first time on a WTA stage.

The 30-year old Paolini is currently ranked No. 8 by the WTA and had a career-high no. 4 in 2024. The Italian standout is one of the most accomplished players in the draw, with three singles titles and 10 doubles trophies to her name.

One of her most recent titles was during the 2025 Italian Open, where she beat Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 in the finals to become the first Italian to win the event in 40 years. 

Paolini earned a bye in the opening round and she is now pitted against the rising Filipina ace. 

The Italian is bent on getting past the 20-year-old Filipina as she seeks to repeat her feat from two years ago when she ruled the 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships, pulling off a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over Anna Kalinskaya in the finals. 

Eala, meanwhile, hopes to extend her last campaign in the Middle East before heading to the United States for the Sunshine swing.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News