Alex Eala eyes redemption as she faces familiar foe Magda Linette in the ASB Classic quarterfinals, carrying momentum from a dominant run in Auckland.
Alex Eala will look to continue her momentum in the 2026 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, as she faces a familiar foe in world No. 52 Magda Linette of Poland on Friday, January 9.
The 20-year-old Eala breezed into the last eight with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 win over Croatia’s Petra Marcinko in the Round of 16, following her opening-round escape against Donna Vekic.
Eala dictated play from the outset, blanking the former world No. 1 junior in the first set before reasserting control to close out the match.
Awaiting her is Linette, who booked her quarterfinal berth after grinding past Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, showcasing the resilience that has made her a fixture in the WTA’s upper tier.
The matchup carries added intrigue as this will not be the first time the two have crossed paths on tour. In 2024, Eala suffered an early exit at the Abu Dhabi Open, bowing out in the round of 32 to Linette, 7-6(4), 6-1, in a tightly contested opener before the Pole pulled away in the second set.
Their most recent meeting also went Linette’s way at the 2025 Nottingham Open, where the sixth seed halted Eala’s run in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, capitalizing on key breaks to seal the victory.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala brings valiant stand vs world no. 31 Magda Linette before exiting Nottingham Open]
Now arriving in Auckland with sharper form and growing confidence, Eala looks eager to flip the script ahead of her much-awaited Australian Open debut in the coming weeks.
Match begins at 7:40 a.m. (Manila time).
(With reports from Kiko Demigillo/One Sports)
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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]