CZECH star Linda Nosková delivered a dominant performance against childhood rival and Filipina sensation Alex Eala, cruising to a 6-2, 6-0 victory on Tuesday in the third round of the 2026 Paribas Open Tennis Championships in Indian Wells, California.
The 21-year-old Nosková secured her first win in three meetings against Eala, relying on a powerful serve and aggressive play to wrap up the match in just 55 minutes.
“I was definitely feeling well from the start until the end. I used my serve a lot and tried to put as much pressure as possible while keeping the rallies under control,” Nosková said after advancing to the quarterfinals, where she will face Talia Gibson.
Gibson arranged the showdown after pulling off a 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 upset against seventh seed Jasmine Paolini.
Despite the defeat, Eala exits the tournament with $105,720 (over ₱6.22 million) in prize money and 120 WTA ranking points. Her live ranking has also climbed to a career-high No. 28, which is expected to become official next week in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings.
Nosková’s heavy groundstrokes and powerful “hammer” shots—designed to maximize power and control through a driving, downward motion—helped her take a 3-1 lead in the opening set. Her strong serving and sharp crosscourt volleys proved too much for Eala, allowing the Czech to dominate the rallies and surge ahead.
Nosková finished the match with seven aces, including two in the final game of the second set, before sealing the victory with a quick love game.
The rivalry between the two dates back to their junior days. Their first meeting came in 2018, when a 12-year-old Eala defeated the 13-year-old Nosková in the finals of the Les Petits As – Le Mondial Lacoste in Tarbes, winning 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to claim the title.
Two and a half years later, Eala prevailed again, beating Nosková 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the girls’ singles event at the French Open junior championships.
