Eala, Post Indian Wells: “I Know I’m Here to Stay”

At this year’s BNP Paribas Open, 20-year-old Alexandra Eala became the first player from the Philippines to play a main-draw match at Indian Wells. She turned that opportunity into a fourth-round run that included a dramatic three-set win in her debut against Dayana Yastremska and an upset of Coco Gauff—her third Top 5 win in less than a year.

Now up to No. 28 in the live rankings, Eala reflected on her achievements this week in Southern California following her 6-2, 6-0 loss to Linda Noskova.

“I do leave with happiness,” she said on Tuesday night in a crowded interview room. “I think tomorrow I’ll be a bit happier than I am now. Of course, the initial feelings after the match are a tough pill to swallow, but I’m in the fourth round of Indian Wells. I’m really happy about that. It’s still something I’m really proud of. I wish it could have ended under different circumstances, but it is what it is, and there will be a next time for sure.”

Eala achieved an immediate connection with her fan base in California, and that synergy was one of the key takeaways of the tournament. The energy helped her play inspired tennis, particularly in her debut against Yastremska—a wild encounter with a tremendous night-session atmosphere on Stadium 3.

Next, the Filipina trailblazer heads to Miami, which was the scene of her breakthrough last year. Ranked No. 140 at the time, Eala made waves by earning two Top 5 wins to reach the semifinals.

“Miami last year was a beautiful time for me and it was the start of all of this, but since then I’ve achieved a lot, I’ve grown, and I’ve had so many good matches, so many tough losses, and so much experience,” she said. “That’s helped me build confidence and self-esteem; I know that I belong here.

“It doesn’t matter if I win the tournament in Miami or if I lose in the first round, I know I’m here to stay.”

Eala leaves the California desert with plenty of positives. Last year, she didn’t have a high enough ranking to compete; a year later, she was seeded. It is a history that is only just beginning.

“The fact that I’ve been able to get a bye here is insane because every match is a battle at this level, and a bye is, for me, amazing,” she said. “I’m so grateful and I’m proud because I earned that. I did all of these things. I’ve trained so hard and done so much that people haven’t seen in order to get here, and it only motivates me more.”