If Sunday in Tennis Paradise is anything like Saturday, then expect some roller coasters. Marathons and comebacks were the order of the day. 

Leading off our three matches to watch as the third round starts are a popular pair who meet yet again.

Coco Gauff vs Alexandra Eala 

“I see why people want to root for her. I root for her when I’m not playing her.” 

Those words came from the ever gracious Coco Gauff. 

She referred to Alexandra Eala, the 20-year-old sensation from the Philippines backed by numerous, passionate fans wherever she plays around the world — just like the 19-year-old from Brazil, Joao Fonseca. 

After Eala’s late-night comeback against Dayana Yastremska in her Indian Wells debut on Friday, her followers on Instagram rose from around 960,000 to 967,000. 

Gauff knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight herself, attracting attention ever since her junior days. Now 21 and a two-time Grand Slam winner, the Floridian counts 2.3 million followers on Instagram. 

They begin the night session at Stadium 1. 

The numbers all added up in Gauff’s favor in the Dubai quarterfinals last month, with the world No. 4 prevailing 6-0, 6-2 in 69 minutes. 

“Coco is an amazing player and playing at home,” Eala, seeded No. 31, told reporters after downing Yastremska. “I'm expecting a big crowd to rally behind her just because she's amazing.

“It was a tough match for me last time. I think she played really well. So all I can do is take the learnings that I have from our last match and try to implement that in our next one.”

Eala tries for a fourth Top 10 win, a year after the lefty got her first two as a wildcard ranked 140th in Miami against Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek. 

Amanda Anisimova vs Emma Raducanu 

Amanda Anisimova’s own breakthrough came in Indian Wells eight years ago. 

Drawing parallels with Eala, Anisimova posted a maiden Top 10 win as a wildcard ranked outside the Top 100 on the way to the fourth round. 

Things haven’t gone as well for her in the desert since but Anisimova is a different player than 12 months ago, reaching Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open thanks to her big ball striking. 

As part of her eventful 2025 campaign, the Floridian also topped Sunday's foe, Emma Raducanu, for the first time. She blasted 29 winners in 15 games in the second round in Montreal. 

“The last time I faced her I was just playing really well,” Anisimova said. “I played the way I wanted to play. I think I also had found my rhythm. 

“Yeah, it was a great match. She's not an easy opponent to face.”

Raducanu is in form, too. 

Last month, Raducanu reached her first final since the winning the US Open as a qualifier in 2021.  

Jannik Sinner vs Denis Shapovalov 

In the last few seasons, only a few have troubled Jannik Sinner at a hard-court major. Denis Shapovalov is one of them.

After splitting the first two sets in the third round at the US Open last year, Shapovalov led the Italian 3-0 in the third and even held a break point for 4-0.

But the four-time Grand Slam champ swept back to win in four, leaving the often-flashy Canadian with mixed emotions. 

“It's obviously a tough loss,” the former world No. 10 said. “I had my chance.

“In a way, I'm happy. Obviously, sad, as well, that I lost. But it's definitely a good step forward for me.”

The contest in New York came after a serious knee injury that contributed to Shapovalov dropping outside the Top 100 as recently as October 2024. He landed two titles in 2025, though, to see his ranking climb once again. 

Shapovalov barely missed a seeding in Indian Wells yet he hasn’t let that stop him, beating two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round and then Rio champion Tomas Martin Etcheverry in a final set tiebreak. 

A win over Sinner would give the 26-year-old a first Top 10 scalp in his last six attempts.