Alex Eala excited for Coco Gauff duel after reaching Dubai quarters

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala gets a crack at beating another Grand Slam champion with a final four berth in the Dubai Tennis Championships at stake.

Eala arranged a quarterfinal date with two-time major winner Coco Gauff of the USA after an inspired 7-5, 6-4 win over Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16 on Wednesday, February 18 (Thursday, February 19, Manila time).

It marked only the second time the 20-year-old Filipina made as far as the last eight of a WTA 1000 tournament, which sits just below the four Grand Slam events in stature. 

But it will be a tall order beating Gauff, a French Open and US Open titlist who currently ranks No. 4 in the world and owns a 9-3 win-loss record this 2026.

Eala and Gauff are no strangers to each other, the two teaming up for doubles play in the Italian Open last year.

“I think I’m in a good path. I think if I continue like this, the next match will be great. I’m looking forward to it. Coco is such an amazing person and we tend to forget that she’s just a year older than me but she’s a great role model for so many. So I’m really excited for that match,” said Eala.

To set up her first-ever clash with Gauff, Eala needed to squeak past a red-hot Cirstea who had just ruled the WTA 250 Transylvania Open in her native country less than two weeks ago.

The world No. 32 Romanian, who had won all of her last seven matches without dropping a set, moved on the cusp of nailing the opening frame at 5-4 before Eala turned the tides by winning all of the next three games.

She pulled level at 5-5, broke Cirstea in the next game to seize the upper hand, then held serve again to steal the first set.

Eala won seven straight games in total as she raced to a commanding 4-0 lead in the second set — a margin that proved sufficient enough to stave off a last-ditch comeback by Cirstea, who got within 4-5 to keep the partisan Filipino crowd at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre on the edge of their seats.

But three consecutive errors by Cirstea opened up match point for Eala, who took advantage and wrapped up the match in 1 hour and 38 minutes with a forehand winner.

“I think the key to today was staying calm and trusting my shots. I think I was very solid in particular moments where I needed to be. That reflected in my performance and in the score, I guess,” said Eala. 

While Gauff poses a huge challenge, Eala has had success against Grand Slam champions in the past. 

Eala beat major winners Iga Swiatek of Poland, Madison Keys of the USA, and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the Miami Open last year en route to the semifinals — the only other time she made at least the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 tournament. 

The Eala-Gauff duel is scheduled at 11 pm on Thursday (Manila time). – Rappler.com