Alex Eala advanced to the Round of 32 of the Dubai Tennis Championships after Hailey Baptiste of the United States retired on the match at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in the United Arab Emirates on Monday (Manila time).

The match lasted for 57 minutes as the world No. 40 Eala won her debut match in Dubai, a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event.

The 24-year-old Baptiste retired after winning the first game in the second set.

Eala

"Obviously, no one likes advancing in this way. Being on Tour, I'm starting to discover, really, at this level, how difficult it is to maintain your health physically," Eala said in a post-match interview.

"Ireally hope that Hayley is okay and will bounce back soon."

Up next for Eala will be world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini of Italy on Tuesday at the same venue.