INDIAN WELLS, California — With a Round of 16 match against Czechia's Linda Noskova looming, Filipina tennis star Alexandra 'Alex' Eala appears to be on track for another legendary run that cements her place near the sports' elite at number 32 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)'s world ranking.
The country's pride secured a victory over United States number one Cori Dionne 'Coco' Gauff after the American retired early in the match due to a shoulder injury.

But though the win may have been against a hampered opponent, Eala still deserves so much credit for such a clinical display against one of the world’s best. After all, she served with impressive consistency, maintaining a first serve percentage of 68 and winning 59 percent of points on it.

In comparison, Gauff managed just 44 percent of first serves in and won 49 percent of those points.
Eala was supremely sharp, gifted the chance to break and she grab the opportunity to forge six break points and converting five of them. Gauff could not dig her way out of this situation, smothered by arguably the biggest name in tennis right now.

Eala wished Gauff well after the match and will now look ahead to a fourth-round clash against China Open finalist Linda Noskova, whom she faces as a tough test on the way to the finals.

Noskova, 21, is another young star who has blossomed on the WTA Tour in recent times. The Czech player is a former French Open Girls’ Singles champion and is now ranked 14th on the WTA Tour.

Eala and Noskova have never played each other on the WTA Tour. However, they did contest a match at the 2020 French Open in the Girls’ Singles event. Eala, seeded second, beat Noskova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in their quarter-final match but subsequently went on to lose in the semi-finals to eventual champion Elsa Jacquemot, 3-6, 2-6.