Alex Eala ends Indian Wells run after swift loss to Linda Noskova

MANILA, Philippines – It simply was not Alex Eala’s night.

Eala lasted only less than an hour against Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova as she exited the Indian Wells Open in California, USA, absorbing a swift 6-2, 6-0 loss in their round of 16 clash on Tuesday, March 10 (Wednesday, March 11, Manila time).

Ranked 14th in the world, Noskova dominated Eala from start to finish with 7 aces and 25 winners to advance to the quarterfinals against Australia’s Talia Gibson.

“I was definitely feeling very well on the court from the start ’til the end. I was using my serve a lot, obviously, putting as much pressure as I could and trying to keep the rallies under control,” said Noskova.

While it was the first time Eala and Noskova faced each other at the professional level, the win was some sort of redemption for the 21-year-old Czech after she lost to the Filipina twice in the junior ranks.

One of those defeats came in the 2020 French Open girls’ singles tournament, where Eala beat Noskova, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.

This time, Noskova made quick work of Eala, wrapping up the match in just 55 minutes.

Eala missed out on a second straight appearance in the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 tournament after she made the last eight of the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.

Receiving a first-round bye in Indian Wells as one of the 32 seeded players, Eala survived Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, in the round of 64 then earned a walkover win over the USA’s Coco Gauff in the round of 32 after the two-time Grand Slam champion retired due to an injury.

Despite her Indian Wells exit, the 20-year-old Eala is expected to crack the world top 30 for the first time in her career when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday, March 16.

Eala now turns her focus on the Miami Open, where she looks to go on another deep run after going all the way to the semifinals last year following upsets over major winners Iga Swiatek of Poland, Madison Keys of the USA, and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.

The Miami Open will run March 17 to 29. – Rappler.com