Alex Eala seeks quarters berth vs world No. 14 Linda Noskova at Indian Wells

The 31st-seeded Eala got a one-day respite after her 6-2, 2-0 (ret) victory over world No. 4 Coco Gauff, who retired with a left arm injury.

It may not have been the kind of triumph that Eala wanted as she also wished her former doubles partner a speedy recovery, but the 20-year-old Filipina rising star is making the most of what she had.

Facing Noskova for the first time is expected to be another daunting task — as with any of Eala’s matches in this WTA1000 event — as the Czech boasts of a wider experience despite being older than the Filipina by a year.

Apart from an Olympic stint in Paris in 2024, Noskova also made it to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Australian Open.

But Eala is up for the challenge — as well as the lessons she would gain in battling higher-ranked rivals like Noskova.

“I think I’ve gained certain experience over the years to handle these high pressure situations. It’s taken up a notch when you’re playing (against) big players and playing in big courts,” the world No. 32 said during a post-match interview.

“So it’s a learning experience. What I try to do is just focus on the next thing that I have to do. I try not to think of the bigger picture and I focus on what I can control,” she added.

Both Eala and Noskova are coming off stints at the Dubai Tennis Championships prior to this tournament, with the Filipina losing to Gauff in the quarters and Noskova, seeded 10th, absorbing a straight-set upset loss to Sorana Cirstea in the Round of 32.

In January, though, Noskova reached the third round of the Australian Open while Eala managed in the first round.

A victory for Eala would secure her a quarters berth with the winner between seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and qualifier Talia Gibson. The Filipina had previously met — and won — against the two players, most recently against Paolini, in the Round of 32 in Dubai. — Kristel Satumbaga-Villar