Coco Gauff was forced into a rare retirement in her third-round clash with Filipina rising tennis star Alex Eala at Indian Wells due to persistent pain in her left arm, which she said made it feel like it was “on fire.”
Gauff, 21, who has only retired from one match previously in her career, took a medical time-out before the final game and apologized to Eala for having to pull out while trailing 6-2, 2-0.
"I’m sorry. You were playing great,” the American told Eala, 20, as they embraced at the net.
It was a tough break for world number four Gauff, who crushed Eala 6-0, 6-2 in the quarter-finals in Dubai three weeks ago and was among the favorites to win the title in the California desert. Gauff's only other retirement came in 2022 in Cincinnati.
"It felt like a firework was going off inside of my arm ... it’s probably something nerve-related,” Gauff said after the match.
"Never felt a sensation like this before,” she added of the experience which she described as “scary.”
Gauff said she would get a scan to assess the situation.
"The good news is they don't think it's going to be a long-term type of situation, so I should be fine for Miami," she said, referring to the second leg of the Sunshine Double that takes place immediately after Indian Wells.
The retirement sends Eala, who has become a celebrity in the Philippines with wins over some of the sport's biggest names, into the round of 16, where she will face Czech Linda Noskova.
REUTERS
