Alex Eala and Linda Noskova rekindle childhood rivalry at Berlin Tennis Open
Alta Sports2 days ago · 501 views
By Joel Reyes
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and Linda Noskova will face each other on the WTA Tour for the second time on Saturday (PH time), when they lock horns in the semifinals of the 2026 Berlin Tennis Open on Steffi Graf Stadion at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club
Eala booked her place in the semis after beating No. 6 seed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4. Noskova, on the other hand, advanced to the semifinals after ousting Paula Badosa 6-1, 6-3 in the quarters.
Eala and Noskova know each other well as they have faced off on a tennis court before on the junior level. Their first-ever meeting took place in the finals of the prestigious Les Petit As U-14 tournament, with the 12-year-old Eala recording a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory in 2018.
It was a stunning win for Eala, who exceeded expectations in the tournament as an unseeded player. She took full advantage of her wildcard slot, reeling off six straight victories, including her upset win against the No. 7 seed Noskova.
Noskova looked to be on her way to the championship after taking a 5-3 lead in the third set. Eala battled right back, though, winning three consecutive games to take a 6-5 advantage in the decider. The match eventually went into a tiebreaker, which Eala won 7-5.
Eala and Noskova crossed paths again two years later when they squared off in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Roland Garros Girls Juniors' Singles competition. It was Eala, who emerged victorious again, pulling off a tough 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win against her Czech foe.
Eala made history with that triumph, becoming the first-ever juniors' tennis player from the Philippines to advance to the semifinals of a juniors' singles competition at a Grand Slam since Felix Barrientos reached the final four of the 1985 Wimbledon.
A lot has changed since their juniors clash in the French Open, with both players now established stars on the WTA Tour. They faced each other for the first time on Tour last March at Indian Wells, with Noskova recording an emphatic 6-2, 6-0 win over Eala in the Round of 16.
It will be fascinating to see who will prevail this time around in their much-anticipated semis showdown in Berlin.
All comments 28
Janne Turalba
Laban Alexa day agoReply
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GP Pascual
Go go go Eala for the wina day agoReply
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Mary Fionna Iglesia
Mabuhay ka Alex🫡👏 The pride of the 🇵🇭🥰a day agoReply
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Mary Fay Iglesia
Go go go Alex 💪a day agoReply
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Mary Fionna Iglesia
Pride of the 🇵🇭 Mabuhay ka Alex Wala🫡👏a day agoReply
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Rhaz Dizon
Go for the win Alex a day agoReply
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Dadi_Aye Martos
Go for the it idol!🙏👏🙌a day agoReply
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Ar Nold
You can do it Alex!a day agoReply
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jhoenice madronial
Alex Wala and Linda noskova2 days agoReply
0
Fee Deal De Ocampo
After the game they will rekindle their adult rivalry 2 days agoReply
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