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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala powers into Indian Wells Round of 16 after Gauff retires

Alex Eala powers into Indian Wells Round of 16 after Gauff retires

Published Mar 9, 2026 10:28 am

At A Glance

  • The 31st-ranked Eala held her serve in the second game of the second set before Gauff retired from the match after feeling persistent pain in her left arm.
Alex Eala (BNP Paribas)
Alex Eala (BNP Paribas)
Alex Eala advanced to the Round of 16 of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after world No. 4 Coco Gauff was forced to retire, 6-2, 2-0, on Monday, March 9 (Philippine time).
The 31st-ranked Eala held her serve in the second game of the second set before Gauff retired from the match after feeling persistent pain in her left arm.
The two players, who once teamed up in the doubles event of last year’s Italian Open, shared a hug afterward.
“I really didn’t want to win this way, but this is still a big moment for me to play on Stadium 1 of Indian Wells and against such a great competitor. I’m really grateful to be here and I’m super happy,” said Eala in her on-court post-match interview.
“I wanna say thank you to the incredible women who have paved the way and who have advocated for themselves and for other women. Among them is Coco, so thank you Coco for being an amazing competitor and an amazing role model. And I really hope that everything is well and you will recover soon,” she also said.
With the win, Eala arranged a duel with 14th seed Linda Noskova, who overcame Sorana Cirstea, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4.
It was a redemption of sorts for Noskova, who lost to Cirstea in the Round of 32 of the Dubai Tennis Championships two weeks ago.
This would be the first time that Eala and Noskova are facing each other, with the Czech earning a first-round bye before drubbing Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 6-3, 6-3, and then Cirstea.
Eala, for her part, also secured an opening-round bye and then outplayed Dayana Yastremska, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, to set up a match against Gauff.
Like any other player in this WTA1000 event, Noskova is no easy player. At 21, she boasts of a current singles ranking of No. 14 and even reached as high as No. 12 just last January.
She was a regular Grand Slam competitor, having reached the quarterfinals of the 2024 Australian Open.
Eala, meanwhile, is on her way. Ranked No. 32 with a career-high of No. 31 just two weeks ago, the 20-year-old Filipina tennis sensation eyes a breakthrough performance in her maiden Indian Wells appearance for a shot at her second WTA singles title.
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