Coco Gauff Forced to Retire at Indian Wells Due to Arm Injury

The American star will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the issue.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Coco Gauff was forced to retire from her third-round match against Alex Eala at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells due to an arm injury. Gauff said she felt a "weird pain" in her left arm during the second game of the match and decided it was best not to continue after the pain only intensified. The 21-year-old will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

Why it matters

Gauff's retirement is a rare occurrence, as she has only retired from a match once before in her career. The injury comes at an inopportune time, with the Miami Open, another major tournament, just over a week away. Gauff's health and recovery will be closely watched by her fans and the tennis community.

The details

Gauff said she "felt a weird pain in my left arm in the second game of the match" and "tried to continue but it was only getting more intense." She decided to retire from the match rather than risk further injury. Eala, Gauff's opponent, showed great sportsmanship, praising Gauff as an "amazing competitor and amazing role model" and wishing her a speedy recovery.

  • Gauff sustained the injury in the second game of the match against Eala.
  • Gauff retired after the second game of the second set.

The players

Coco Gauff

A 21-year-old American tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 4 by the WTA.

Alex Eala

A 31-seeded Filipina tennis player who advanced to the Round of 16 after Gauff's retirement.

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What they’re saying

“I felt a weird pain in my left arm in the second game of the match, I tried to continue but it was only getting more intense. As most of you, I rarely have to end matches with a retirement but because it was such an unfamiliar pain I decided it was best not to continue.”

— Coco Gauff (Instagram)

“Yes, first and foremost, I want to say happy Women's Day, everybody. Bear with me, because I have a lot to say. I want to say thank you to all the incredible women who have paved the way and who have advocated for themselves and for other women. Among them is Coco. So thank you, Coco, for being an amazing competitor and amazing role model, and I really hope that everything is well and you will recover soon.”

— Alex Eala (On-court interview)

What’s next

Gauff will undergo an MRI on her left arm on Friday to determine the extent of the injury.

The takeaway

Gauff's retirement highlights the unpredictable nature of sports injuries and the importance of player health and safety, especially with a major tournament like the Miami Open just around the corner. Eala's sportsmanship and support for Gauff during the difficult moment underscores the camaraderie and mutual respect among the top women's tennis players.