Overview
- Eala led 6-4, 0-1 when Hailey Baptiste retired with an abdominal injury, securing the Filipina’s first WTA 1000 win of the season.
- She will face sixth seed Jasmine Paolini in the next round in their first WTA meeting.
- The victory is worth 65 ranking points, with another 55 available if she beats Paolini, and all will count because she skipped Dubai last year as she faces a 390-point defense in Miami.
- Eala entered the draw after Naomi Osaka withdrew, and additional pullouts by Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek have thinned the field.
- Tournament director Salah Tahlak expects a strong turnout from the UAE’s large Filipino community to support Eala in Dubai.