Eala scores big wins but eased out at Indian Wells, readies for Miami Open

By Claire Morales True, Managing Editor

LOS ANGELES – Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala continued her winning ways at the WTA 1000 Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, reaching the round 16, but she bowed out after losing to Linda Noskova of Czech Republic, 2-6, 0-6.

The 14th-seeded Noskova fired seven aces to send the world’s No. 32 Eala packing after 55 minutes. Eala then flew to Miami for another WTA tourney. It was in Miami last where she reached semifinals by conquering former Grand Slam champions like Katie Volynets, Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Paula Badosa and became a top tennis player rising from no. 140 to no. 75.

Noskova advanced to the quarterfinals against Australian Talia Gibson, who eliminated No. 7 seed Italian Jasmine Paolini, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

It was the first win of Noskova in three meetings against Eala.

The rivalry between the two dates back to their junior days. Their first meeting came in 2018, when a 12-year-old Eala defeated the 13-year-old Nosková in the finals of the Les Petits As – Le Mondial Lacoste in Tarbes, winning 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to claim the title.

Two and a half years later, Eala prevailed again, beating Nosková 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the girls’ singles event at the French Open junior championships.

Despite her defeat, Eala exited the tournament with $105,720 (over ₱6.22 million) in prize money and 120 WTA ranking points.

Reports stated Eala’s live ranking has also climbed to a career-high No. 28, which is expected to become official next week in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings.

Eala said her defeat in her first outing at India Wells was a big learning experience as she started preparing for the Miami Open where she first shined when she defeated star tennisters there.In the doubles, Eala and her American partner Iva Jovic lost to American Hailey Baptiste and Latvian Jelena O

stapenko, 2-6, 2-6, in the first round.

Eala set up a meeting with Noskova after posting a 6-2, 2-0 big win over American Coco Gauff, who was forced to retire due to a left arm injury.

Eala and Gauff had met in the quarterfinal round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships last month, with Gauff winning, 6-0, 6-2.

Eala advanced at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells Open, after the American top player and 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion Coco Gauff was forced to retire during their round-of-32 match.

Eala, the world’s No. 32 and seeded No. 31 in the tournament, was leading 6-2, 2-0 when the third-seeded Gauff quit due to a left arm injury.

Gauff had clobbered Eala, 6-0, 6-2, when they met in the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships last month.

Noskova earlier who pulled off a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sorana Cirstea of Romania to arrange the match with Eala.

Earlier, Eala received a first-round bye in Indian Wells, sending her straight to the second round of the main draw.

Eala then went on to defeat Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.

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