Things unraveled quickly for Coco Gauff on Sunday night inside Stadium 1. The American took an early lead but began to struggle with a left arm injury late in the opening set during her highly anticipated third-round clash with Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala.

After dropping the opening set, 6-2, Gauff could only get through two more games before she was forced to retire, sending Eala to the round of 16 on her tournament debut with a 6-2, 2-0 RET. victory.

The reason given for Gauff’s retirement was a left arm injury.

It was only the second time Gauff has retired from a WTA-level match, and the first time since 2022. Gauff saw the on-court physio after the seventh game of the opening set, then again during the set break.

Eala, the first player from the Philippines to contest the main draw at this tournament, will face Linda Noskova of Czechia in the round of 16.

Gauff elected to play on in the second set, but her evening would soon come to a close. Eala smacked a forehand winner to break for 2-0 in the second set when Gauff elected to pull the plug on the match.

The pair exchanged a hug at the net, and Gauff explained to Eala that she started feeling her injury in the first set.

“I’m sorry, I hate to do this,” Gauff told Eala.

“Thank you Coco, for being an amazing competitor and an amazing role model – I really hope that everything is well and you will recover soon," Eala said in her on-court interview.

“I really didn’t want to win this way, but this is still a really big moment for me to be able to play on Stadium 1 at Indian Wells against such a great competitor. I’m really grateful to be here and I’m super happy.”