ALEX Eala goes full circle in the Round of 16 of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells when she faces world No. 14 Linda Noskova of Czechia.
While it will be their first meeting in the professional ranks, the Filipina No. 32 and Noskova share history as former batchmates in the juniors circuit.
Noskova, 21, and Eala, 20, faced each other twice before, with the Filipina winning both. Their first face-off came in the championship round of the Le Petit As U-14 tournament in France in 2018 when Eala, then 12, prevailed, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6.
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Two years later, Eala again got the better of the Czech in the quarterfinals of the French Open juniors, winning in three hard-fought sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Much has changed since their junior days.
In 2024, Noskova captured her maiden WTA title at the WTA 500 Monterrey Open and has since reached five tour-level singles finals along with two doubles finals. She also climbed to a career-best no. 12 in the world rankings in 2025.
Eala, meanwhile, has also been on a steady rise. The Filipina enjoyed a breakthrough run to the semifinals in Miami last year, reached the finals at Eastbourne, and captured a WTA 125 title in Guadalajara, Mexico.
She is in the middle of an encouraging 2026 campaign, where Indian Wells marks her seventh tournament of the season, Eala has reached a career-high ranking of No. 31 and is projected to reach as low as No. 28 in the next list.
Eala said she is excited as their next chapter of her rivalry with Noshova unfolds on a much bigger stage.
“Linda is an amazing player, very powerful and even at such a young age very experienced, so I'm excited,” said Eala. “It’s my first fourth round in Indian Wells, so I’m going to go in with good preparation and a lot of motivation.”
After all, the Filipina enters the clash riding momentum of victories over Dayana Yastremska and world No. 4 Coco Gauff in the earlier rounds, boosting both confidence and belief ahead of the Round-of-16 showdown.
Noskova, from her end, took down Sorana Cirstea and Jessica Bouzas in the first two rounds.
They will see action at Stadium 1 not before 11 a.m., Manila Time, on Wednesday.
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