It was tough challenge for the Filipina netter.
On Wednesday, March 11 (Philippine time), Alex Eala went back to the hard court for her Round of 16 match against Czech player Linda Noskova.
The former, who is currently World No. 32, was looking to make her way to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Indian Wells Open in California, U.S.A. But the latter, World No. 14, proved to be a major challenger as the European gave the Asian tennis star an intense play.
Noskova, from the get-go, had already taken the momentum of the match, which despite efforts from Eala to close the gap in the first set, saw the Czech woman cruise her way to the leadership of the game.
That was carried over onto the second set, which spelled a decisive win for the European, 6-2, 6-0, and the end of the rather historic debut run of the Filipina tennis star in the tournament.
After receiving a bye to the second round, Alex faced off with Dayana Yastremska in the Round of 64, which ended with the Pinay’s victory in the three-set match, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.
Last Monday, she had her rematch with American player Coco Gauff after their previous battle in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships last February.
The ended midway through the match as Gauff had to retire due to an injury, giving Eala a walkover to the Round of 16.
Up next in the calendar of the 20-year-old is her return to the Miami Open in Florida, where she placed runner-up in the 2025 edition.