Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini Prediction (February 17th, 2026)
The 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships are underway, with a big match set to go down in the round of 32 between Alexandra Eala and Jasmine Paolini. DraftKings has Paolini as a clear -198 betting favorite, but there is solid value on both sides of this match.
There could be a bit more to this match than meets the eye, and bettors may be wondering if Eala can stage the upset. It’s a fair consideration, as she’s 10 years younger than the veteran Paolini, who hasn’t advanced past the third round in any tournament she’s participated so far in 2026.
That said, Eala is inexperienced with zero singles titles to her name at the WTA level. That isn’t something she needs to escape the round of 32, however, while there is some logic to backing her as a cool +151 underdog.
Want to know what the best Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini picks are? I’ll go over this matchup and the latest odds, highlight the best bets, and wrap things up with a final Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini prediction.
Match Details
- Date & Time: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, approximately 1:10 AM ET
- Venue: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium; Dubai, UAE
- Event: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (WTA 1000)
- Round: Round of 32 (Second Round)
- Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Current Betting Odds & Market Snapshot
Check out the Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini odds over at DraftKings:
- Alexandra Eala: +151
- Jasmine Paolini: -198
- Eala Games Won: Over 11.5 (-125) | Under 11.5 (-115)
- Paolini Games Won: Over 12.5 (+105) | Under 12.5 (-150)
What the Odds Tell Us
The veteran Paolini is the clear favorite to win and get out of the round of 32 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. She’s 10 years older and offers way more experience to rely on.
The pricing indicates this will be a quick match, too, as Paolini is favored to win fewer than 13 games. That suggests a 2:0 win in straight sets for the vet.
Matchup Preview & Player Profiles
Alexandra Eala
Eala lacks experience and polish, but she may be on the upward swing. The 20-year-old is the first Filipino to crack the top-40, and she showed some growth by advancing to the second round of last year’s US Open.
In addition, Eala did well at a few other tourneys last year. She reached the Canberra International semifinals, and she did serious work at the 2025 Miami Open. Her run to the semis there included big wins over Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek.
Eala’s continued rise also saw a quarter-finals run at the Italian Open for the doubles competition, while she kept her positive momentum going to start 2026 with a semifinals appearance at the Auckland Open. She even reached the quarter-finals at the Philippine Women’s Open this year, while she also got to the quarter-finals at the Abu Dhabi Open.
An aggressive baseliner with solid power and an improving serve. Eala can return serves at a high rate and is especially great at applying pressure and using her athleticism to her benefit – all of which could give her a leg up against an older opponent.
Jasmine Paolini
Paolini isn’t young for a professional female tennis player, but she’s also not ancient. Still technically in her physical prime at age 30, Paolini offers far more experience than Eala, but she only has three tournament titles to her name.
The big problem with Paolini is her recent form, as she hasn’t been lights out so far in 2026. She also specifically struggled against more athletic players already this year, with the highlight loss coming to Iva Jovic in straight sets in Melbourne.
Paolini is aggressive in nature, and she can move well all around the court. However, she lacks an impactful serve, meaning she usually has to win by extending rallies and picking her spots.
She’s very good at doing that, though, and her experience could give her a clear edge in this department, especially considering the opponent.
Head-to-Head Record
| Alexandra Eala | Jasmine Paolini | |
|---|---|---|
Wins | 0 | 0 |
Losses | 0 | 0 |
Total Wins | 201 | 414 |
Grand Slams | 0 | 0 |
These two ladies will be facing each other for the first time ever. Paolini has doubled up Eala’s wins, but the 20-year old is quite successful already considering her age.
In terms of recent form, Paolini is just 3-3 overall so far in singles competition in 2026, while Eala is 8-5.
Key Matchup Factors to Watch
Let’s investigate the key Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini matchup factors to decide who will win and how you need to bet:
- Serve Power: Eala’s serve consistency is lacking, but the upside is definitely better than Paolini’s. Paolini’s leverage can be impacted by her small frame, making her power not very imposing. If Eala can rack up some aces or simply benefit from strong serving, she could have a huge edge.
- Rally Szn: Paolini is elite (82% win rate) on clay, but her reliability drops quite a bit on hard courts. She’s at her best when extending rallies and moving all over the court, but her strength could be mitigated by Eala’s strong play on hard courts, as well as her willingness to dive into rallies.
Best Bets & Betting Strategy
Check out my top Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini picks:
| Bet | Reasoning | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Alexandra Eala ML (+151) | Eala is obviously still fairly raw – especially with her serve – but she has turned it on lately. Her athleticism and growing confidence – plus Paolini’s suspect form – make her a very intriguing upset pick. | 6/10 |
Paolini Under 12.5 Games Won (-150) | Whether it’s because she dominates in straight sets or loses like I project, Paolini is a solid bet to finish with 12 games won or fewer. | 7/10 |
Odd lines are shifting for Fritz vs. Korda as bettors debate straight-set value and games-won props. Track odds movement at our top sports betting sites.
Risk Factors & Things to Watch
Things don’t always go as planned in tennis betting. Here’s how my Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini bets could miss the mark:
- Third Set: If this match goes to a third set, my Eala vs. Paolini picks could both falter. Eala could lose in three sets, or she could win, and Paolini wins more than 12.5 games due to the extended match.
- Veteran Dominance: It’s always possible the more experienced Paolini dominates this match, and even if she doesn’t, winning in three sets would ruin my bets.
The Bottom Line: Eala Surprises with the Upset as Paolini Continues to Struggle
I am looking at this match in two ways: Eala is the more exciting player at the moment, and Paolini is struggling right now. Paolini is not a very scary matchup in general, as she relies heavily on her athleticism and movement.
Eala can still win in a match like that, but a potentially superior serve could give her a major advantage. Her willingness to dive into rallies and survive them also should allow her to stay in this one, if not control it from the jump.
My main Alexandra Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini prediction is that the younger player gets the win. The matchup is pretty tight, but she should have the serve edge, and I like her chances when things get chaotic. Her strong 2026 form is also very encouraging, while Paolini has not been on top of her game at all.
That said, a strong secondary bet that operates as a hedge but can also align with the first is Paolini winning Under 12.5 games. That would likely come in a straight set loss to Eala, but it could also come in a straight set win, making it a really strong second pick to target.
Final Prediction Summary
- Match Winner – Alexandra Eala (+151) | Confidence: 6/10
- Paolini Games Won – Under 12.5 (-150) | Confidence 7/10
