Alex Eala Survives Three-Set Thriller, Now Faces Coco Gauff at Indian Wells
Pinay tennis star Alex Eala just proved again why she's world No. 32 — and climbing. The 20-year-old Filipina gutted out a tough three-set victory over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, in the Round of 64 at the Indian Wells Open, often called the "fifth Grand Slam" of tennis.
It wasn't easy. Yastremska, ranked No. 52, came in hot after a straight-sets win over Zhang Shuai in the previous round. But Eala showed her trademark resilience, taking the opening set 7-5, dropping the second 4-6, then digging deep to close it out 7-5 in a nerve-wracking decider.
Now comes the real test: Eala's Round of 32 opponent is none other than Coco Gauff, the American superstar who already beat her 6-0, 6-2 in the Dubai quarterfinals just weeks ago. It's a rematch that every Filipino tennis fan will be watching closely — can Eala pull off a different result this time around?
Aside from singles, Eala is also competing in doubles with partner Iva Jovic. The duo is set to face Jelena Ostapenko and Hailey Baptiste in the Round of 32 on March 8, adding another exciting chapter to her Indian Wells campaign.
Eala's 2026 season has been solid so far, with deep runs in the Dubai Tennis Championships (quarterfinals), Abu Dhabi Open (quarterfinals), and the ASB Classic in New Zealand (semifinals). She's been steadily building her case as one of Asia's brightest tennis talents, and a strong showing at Indian Wells could push her even higher in the rankings.
Source: GMA News
