Coco Gauff Pulls Out Of Indian Wells Due To Injury As Alexandra Eala Advances

Last Updated:March 09, 2026, 13:54 IST

The 21-year-old world number four was trailing Eala 6-2, 2-0 when she decided to stop, allowing the rising star from the Philippines to advance to the last 16.

Coco Gauff retired from her third-round match at Indian Wells on Sunday due to a left arm injury that “felt like it was on fire," but she remains hopeful about recovering in time for Miami. The 21-year-old world number four was trailing Alexandra Eala 6-2, 2-0 when she decided to stop, allowing the rising star from the Philippines to advance to the last 16.

“I felt it during the second game of the first set," Gauff explained. “To put it simply, it felt like a firework was going off inside my arm, and then my whole arm felt like it was on fire. As the match continued, the pain worsened, even on shots that didn’t involve my left arm," Gauff added, noting that her two-handed backhand is usually one of her strengths.

“It was a scary feeling," she said, mentioning that she would undergo an MRI scan for an accurate diagnosis, which she believes is likely nerve-related. “The good news is they don’t think it’s a long-term issue, so I should be fine for Miami," Gauff said, looking forward to the second leg of the ATP and WTA’s “Sunshine Double" after Indian Wells.

This is only the second time Gauff has retired from a match, the first being against Marie Bouzkova in Cincinnati in 2022. “I would rather finish the match and lose 6-0, but the pain was worsening, and not knowing what was happening, I thought it was better to stop," she explained.

Gauff was trailing 5-2 in the first set when she took a medical timeout for treatment on her arm. A trainer worked on her shoulder and arm, and after she was broken in the final game of the opening set, she returned to have her forearm wrapped. However, it was to no avail, and after 54 minutes, Gauff informed Eala that she was retiring.

“No one likes winning or losing like that," Eala said. “Nevertheless, I’m really happy with how I played," added Eala, who lost 6-0, 6-2 to Gauff in the quarter-finals in Dubai last month. “I’m pleased with my performance and hope to make the best of this momentum," said the 31st seed, who will face Czech Linda Noskova for a place in the quarter-finals.

Eala, 20, gained attention last year with a surprise semi-final run at the Miami Open, where she defeated Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys. At the US Open in August, she became the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match. Although she lost in the first round at the Australian Open, her fans created a sensation in Melbourne, enthusiastically supporting her practice sessions and first main-draw match at the event.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

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