Eala enters Dubai Championships 2nd round as Baptiste retires

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala entered the Dubai Tennis Championships second round after American Hailey Baptiste retired in the second set of their first round match (round of 64) in the United Arab Emirates Monday midnight in Manila.

Baptiste retired due to injury after the first game of the second set as Eala got the walkover win, 6-4, 0-1.

"Obviously no one likes advancing in this way and being on Tour, I'm starting to discover on this level how difficult it is to maintain physically so I really hope that Hailey is okay and will bounce back soon," said Eala in the post-match court interview.

World No. 40 Eala will face sixth seed and world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the second round (round of 32).

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