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MANILA, Philippines — Together with her rise as a competitor, Filipina ace Alex Eala has also blossomed as a young star drawing sellout crowd.
And she rides a wave of momentum as she’s once again featured in the Indian Wells Open main match at Stadium I today (Tuesday in Southern California), taking on world No. 14 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic for a place in the quarterfinals..
“I hope I can make the best out of the momentum,” said Eala in the post-match press conference following a huge 6-2, 2-0 (ret.) triumph over American star Coco Gauff in the Round of 32.
“Linda is an amazing player. She’s very powerful and very experienced even at such a young age. I’m excited so I’m gonna go in with a good preparation and a lot of motivation,” added Eala with a journey that has blossomed into a must-see spectacle – a prime-time feature in what’s considered the fifth Grand Slam.
All eyes will be on Stadium 1 to see if Eala can extend her remarkable roll and secure a spot in the quarterfinals either against world No. 7 Jasmine Paolini of Italy or Talia Gibson of Australia (No. 112).
Eala, 20, and Noskova, 21, are no strangers to each other as they have had their face-offs in their junior days none bigger than the 2020 French Open girls’ singles, where the lefty Filipina pulled off a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback win.
Six years later, they meet again in the pros with bigger stakes up for grabs.
“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,” Eala said.
Top seeds Iga Swiatek of Poland (No. 2), Elena Rybakina of Kazakshtan (No. 3), Jessica Pegula of USA (No. 5) and Elina Svitolina of Ukraine (No. 9) also rolled to the Round of 16.
Swiatek swept No. 32 Maria Sakkari of Greece, 6-3, 6-3, Rybakina drubbed No. 28 Maria Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-4, 6-4, Svitolina beat unseeded American Ashlyn Krueger, 6-4, 6-2, and Pegula escaped past No. 26 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Mirra Andreeva’s title defense met a bad-tempered end as Katerina Siniakova stunned the talented Russian teenager 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Andreeva slung her racquet as she approached the net before departing the court with a defiant gesture at the crowd.
— John Bryan Ulanday
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Credit belongs to: www.philstar.com
