Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Alex Eala

ABS-CBN News

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala put on a display of grit and mental fortitude in rallying from the brink of defeat in her debut at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.Against Ukraine&#x27;s Dayana Yastremska in the second round, Eala was pushed to a deciding match where she fell behind, 4-5, with the serve at the hands of her opponent.But Eala broke back to level the match, and from there the Filipina refused to fold. She held Yastremska to love in the next game to surge ahead, and outlasted her in a marathon 12th game to finally wrap up the 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 victory in two hours and 43 minutes.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/3/7/tennis-alex-eala-outlasts-yastremska-in-thriller-advances-to-third-round-in-indian-wells-1558">READ: Alex Eala outlasts Yastremska in thriller, advances to third round in Indian Wells</a></div>&quot;I told myself to keep fighting. I was still in the match, so yeah, like I said on court, I really had to dig deep for that one,&quot; Eala told reporters afterward.&quot;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. I think mental fortitude was a big part of today&#x27;s game,&quot; she added.It was a hard-earned win for the 20-year-old Eala in her Indian Wells debut, where she entered as the 31st seed and earned a bye to the second round. She was made to work for every point by the powerful Yastremska, who uncorked winner after winner in the second set to send the match to a decider.But the Ukrainian was made to pay by her own errors, along with a stunning 15 double faults. Her final error -- a forehand that went long -- sent the crowd at Stadium 3 into rapture as it confirmed Eala&#x27;s victory. It was no surprise to see Eala backed by the majority of the fans in the venue and afterward she thanked her supporters for staying close to midnight just to watch her play.&quot;It means the world to have this community behind me, in such a prestigious tournament. And for them to make the effort to stay up late, and stay in the cold and cheer me on it really added to the feelings and the emotions after the match,&quot; said Eala.Filipino fans had shown up to watch Eala during her practice sessions, and they are expected to be back in full force when she plays in the third round. There, she will be up against a home favorite in Coco Gauff.The American had memorably beaten Eala when they played in the Dubai Tennis Championships last month, taking a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 win.Eala is now hoping to put the lessons she learned from that match to good use when she plays Gauff anew.&quot;I think it&#x27;s definitely going to be a tough one. Coco is an amazing player and [she&#x27;s] playing at home,&quot; Eala noted. &quot;So, I&#x27;m expecting a big crowd to rally behind her just &#x27;cause she&#x27;s amazing.&quot;&quot;Today I had to dig really deep so I&#x27;m expecting that in the next match, I have to do even more. So, I&#x27;m ready, and I&#x27;m looking forward to it,&quot; she added.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala put on a display of grit and mental fortitude in rallying from the brink of defeat in her debut at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala put on a display of grit and mental fortitude in rallying from the brink of defeat in her debut at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.

'Keep fighting': Focus, fortitude power Eala to triumphant Indian Wells debut

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'Keep fighting': Focus, fortitude power Eala to triumphant Indian Wells debut

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 07, 2026 09:14 PM PHT

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Updated March 07, 2026 09:27 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

tennis

Indian Wells

BNP Paribas Open

Alex Eala

Dayana Yastremska

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