Alexandra Eala came through an extremely dramatic third set decider to confirm her status at Indian Wells.
Eala looked all but beaten in her match against Dayana Yastremska, but she managed to turn the third set around to win 7-5 and confirm her place in the third round.
Eala will face Coco Gauff next for the second time this year already, following their quarter-final meeting at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
After the match, Eala explained how she was able to overcome the odds in her very first match at Indian Wells.
Alexandra Eala says her Indian Wells win was down to ‘mental fortitude’
Eala’s battling style has become her trademark in 2026, and she has produced some stunning comebacks already.
Her latest Indian Wells win can be slotted into that category, but Eala has a simple reason why she is always able to turn matches on their head.
What is the best win of Alexandra Eala’s career so far? 🤔
Iga Swiatek in Miami, Clara Tauson at the US Open, Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, or a different match?
Speaking in her Indian Wells press conference, Eala said: “I feel great now. Yeah, I just told myself to keep fighting, and I was still in the match. Yeah, like I said on court, I really had to dig deep for that one.
“I think focus was a huge part of the match today. She played really well, in my opinion. I had to really go after all the balls and trust my gut. So, yeah, I think mental fortitude was a big part of today’s game.”
Eala won more points than her opponent, with 113 to Yastremska’s 109, but the Filipina hit considerably fewer winners.
Alexandra Eala hits new high after first Indian Wells win
Eala came into Indian Wells ranked world number 31 on the WTA Tour rankings, but she has already moved up provisionally after beating Yastremska.
The 20-year-old has jumped three places in the rankings after confirming her place in the third round of Indian Wells.
What does Alexandra Eala need to improve in 2026 to challenge for a Grand Slam title?
Eala currently sits at World No. 29 in the rankings, although that could still change with plenty of stars left in the California competition.
Currently, Eala has overtaken Marta Kostyuk, Cristina Bucsa, and Maya Joint to join the top 30 for the first time in her career.
The star will be hoping to capture as many ranking points as possible at Indian Wells, as she has to defend her semi-final position from last year next at the Miami Open.
