FILIPINA tennis sensation Alexandra Eala delivered an impressive performance after defeating 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 held at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre early Wednesday (Philippine time).

The victory propelled Eala into the Round of 16, where she is set to face Romanian veteran Sorana Cîrstea, who advanced after eliminating Czech 10th seed Linda Nosková, 6-1, 6-4.

Top seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan also progressed comfortably, overpowering Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, 6-1, 6-2. She will next meet Croatia’s Antonia Ružić, who battled past Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova in three sets, 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-1.

Second seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States advanced via walkover against Czech star Barbora Krejčíková and will take on Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, who upset Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Poland’s Magda Linette pulled off one of the day’s surprises by defeating eighth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. She moves on to face Denmark’s 12th seed Clara Tauson, who beat American Peyton Stearns, 6-2, 6-4.

American stars Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula likewise secured their spots in the next round. Third seed Gauff overcame Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, 6-4, 6-4, setting up a clash with Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who stunned American Emma Navarro, 6-2, 6-2.

Pegula, seeded fourth, dominated France’s Varvara Gracheva, 6-4, 6-0, and will next meet fellow American Iva Jovic, who defeated Russia’s Diana Shnaider, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.

Other players advancing to the Round of 16 include Russia’s Mirra Andreeva, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, and Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.

Eala’s strong showing marks another milestone in her rising international career as she continues to compete against some of the world’s top-ranked players.