It was a debut to remember for Alexandra Eala in Tennis Paradise. 

With temperatures dipping in the desert and midnight approaching, Eala — and her now customary throng of fans — didn’t go anywhere as her encounter with Dayana Yastremska stretched close to three hours. 

The lefty from the Philippines persevered to beat the former Grand Slam semifinalist 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 and set up a rematch with another crowd favorite, Coco Gauff, in the third round. 

“I feel great now,” Eala, 20, told reporters. “I just told myself to keep fighting, and I was still in the match. I really had to dig deep for that one.”

Indeed, Eala was almost out of the tournament. Yastremska broke for 5-4 in the third — but was broken back after authoring one of her 15 double faults. 

Seizing on the momentum, Eala then won the next two games. In the gripping finale, another Yastremska double fault brought up a fourth match point before her forehand went long. 

Eala exchanged a hug with Yastremska — who had Pam Shriver in her box — and seconds later, let out a huge roar. 

Throughout, those fans, who waved flags of the Philippines and shouted her name, bolstered Eala.

“It means the world to have this community behind me in such a prestigious tournament,” said Eala. “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.”

Even prior to playing a match in Indian Wells, Eala’s supporters packed her practice sessions. 

It is only a matter of time before her followers on Insta — currently at 960,000 — exceed one million. 

After Gauff beat Eala 6-0, 6-2 in Dubai last month, she gave a shout out to Eala’s backers who helped to fill up the center court. 

“Thank you guys for coming out here,” Gauff said on court. “I know you were mostly supporting Alex, but I have to say it’s great to be on a crowded court. Also, I’d like to thank Alex for bringing a new demographic to the sport. I really appreciate it. I think it’s great.”

Gauff won 70 percent of Eala’s first-serve points in their quarterfinal. Eala thus hopes to turn things around. 

The rising world No. 31 is no stranger to topping Grand Slam champions, defeating Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys and Jelena Ostapenko in her breakthrough event in Miami last year.

“Coco is an amazing player and playing at home,” said Eala, who trains at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca. “I'm expecting a big crowd to rally behind her just because she's amazing.

“But it's like every other match. Today I had to dig really deep, so I'm expecting that the next match I have to do even more. I'm ready and I'm looking forward to it.”

Tennis fans will be, too.