By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Filipino Alexandra Eala bowed out of the WTA 1000 BNP Paribas Open after losing to Linda Noskova of Czech Republic, 2-6, 0-6, Wednesday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, USA.
The 14th-seeded Noskova fired seven aces to send the world’s No. 32 Eala packing after 55 minutes.
Noskova advanced to the quarterfinals against Australian Talia Gibson, who eliminated No. 7 seed Italian Jasmine Paolini, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka downed No. 16 seed Japanese Naomi Osaka, 6-2, 6-4, to forge a quarterfinal duel with No. 10 seed Canadian Victoria Mboko, who ousted No. 6 seed American Amanda Anisimova, 6-4, 6-1.
In the doubles, Eala and her American partner Iva Jovic lost to American Hailey Baptiste and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, 2-6, 2-6, in the first round.
Eala set up a meeting with Noskova after posting a 6-2, 2-0 win over American Coco Gauff, who was forced to retire due to a left arm injury.
Eala and Gauff had met in the quarterfinal round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships last month, with Gauff winning, 6-0, 6-2. (PNA)
