Filipina tennis player Alexandra Eala advanced to the fourth round at Indian Wells for the first time in her career after American Coco Gauff retired due to a left arm injury early in the second set, Monday WIB.
Eala led 6-2, 2-0 when Gauff retired after 54 minutes of play in the third round of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open. Eala later used the opportunity of an on-court interview to commemorate International Women's Day and send praise and best wishes to Gauff.
"First and foremost, I want to wish everyone a Happy International Women's Day. Please bear with me, because I have a lot to say,".
"I want to thank all the incredible women who have paved the way and who have championed themselves and other women."
"Among them is Coco, so thank you, Coco, for being an incredible competitor and a wonderful role model. And I really hope everything is okay and that you'll recover soon," said the 20-year-old.
Gauff first requested a medical timeout while trailing 5-2 in the first set. Eala immediately broke Gauff's serve to secure the set, and Gauff received treatment with a thick bandage on her left arm during the break.
However, after losing the first two games of the second set, Gauff was unable to continue the match.
