{"id":1815527,"date":"2026-03-09T07:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T04:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1815527"},"modified":"2026-03-09T07:00:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T04:00:44","slug":"indian-wells-open-what-coco-gauff-had-to-say-after-alex-eala-match-my-whole-arm-felt-like-it-was-on-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1815527","title":{"rendered":"Indian Wells Open: What Coco Gauff had to say after Alex Eala match &#8211; &#8216;My whole arm felt like it was on fire&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Indian Wells Open: What Coco Gauff had to say after Alex Eala match \u2013 \u2018My whole arm felt like it was on fire\u2019<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/shahidaj\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Shahida Jacobs                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"09 Mar 2026 7:00 AM\" data-ps-date=\"09 Mar 2026 7:00 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1773039644\"><br \/>\n                            09 Mar 2026 7:00 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/indian-wells-open-what-coco-gauff-said-alex-eala-match-whole-arm-on-fire\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Findian-wells-open-what-coco-gauff-said-alex-eala-match-whole-arm-on-fire\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Findian-wells-open-what-coco-gauff-said-alex-eala-match-whole-arm-on-fire\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Findian-wells-open-what-coco-gauff-said-alex-eala-match-whole-arm-on-fire\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Findian-wells-open-what-coco-gauff-said-alex-eala-match-whole-arm-on-fire\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Indian Wells Open: What Coco Gauff had to say after Alex Eala match \u2013 \u2018My whole arm felt like it was on fire\u2019\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-disappointed-Coco-Gauff-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: A disappointed Coco Gauff\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                A disappointed Coco Gauff reacts during her match                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Coco Gauff\u2019s Indian Wells Open campaign came to an unfortunate end in the third round against Alex Eala as she retired due to an arm injury and afterwards she explained what went wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Reigning French Open champion <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/coco-gauff\">Gauff<\/a> made a good start as she broke Eala in the opening game of the match, but from the second game onwards, she struggled and took a medical timeout while 2-5 down.<\/p>\n<p>Eala then broke in game eight to take the opening set and won the two opening games of the second set before the American \u2013 who defeated the Filipina in straight sets in their last event at the Dubai Tennis Championships \u2013<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/wta-rankings-alex-eala-set-break-top-30-ailing-coco-gauff-retires\"> threw in the towel with the score 2-6, 0-2<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During her post-match press conference, she was asked about the injury.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q:<\/strong> Coco, obviously a disappointing way to finish at Indian Wells. Just talk us through the injury a little bit, what you felt, if it happened during the match. Just as much detail as possible, please.<\/p>\n<p><strong>COCO GAUFF:<\/strong> \u201cI felt it, like, the second game of the first set. I guess a simple way to put it, it felt like a firework was going off inside of my arm, and then my whole arm felt like it was on fire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to figure out what it is tomorrow, but based off the feeling, being told that it\u2019s probably something nerve-related. Never had anything like this before, never felt anything, a sensation like this before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd then as the match played, it got progressively worse, even when I wasn\u2019t using my arm on shots that I wasn\u2019t even using my left arm for.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was feeling like fireworks at times. Yeah, it was a scary feeling, but yeah, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Coco Gauff News<\/h2>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/coco-guaff-serving-problem-mental-indian-wells\">Coco Gauff told her serving problems are \u2018now mental\u2019 after constant questions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/coco-gauff-serve-better-problem-revealed-rick-macci\">Coco Gauff\u2019s serve is \u2018biomechanically better\u2019 as the real problem is revealed by legendary coach<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Q:<\/strong>\u00a0Was it a particular shot that you hit when it happened?<\/p>\n<p><strong>COCO GAUFF:<\/strong> \u201cI believe it was a forehand, and then, yeah, it just got worse and worse. And then I tried, but because it didn\u2019t feel like a muscle or a bone thing, I think it felt like my arm was on fire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t feel comfortable to continue, because usually with those type of pains, I kind of know what to expect, but I\u2019ve never had, like, nerve pains before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAgain, we\u2019re going to see tomorrow what it is, but I\u2019m assuming it\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q:<\/strong>\u00a0Obviously you\u2019re not someone that ever really retires in matches, and so obviously this is something you\u2019re taking quite seriously. Is your plan to try and ice it and treat it, get some scans tomorrow?<\/p>\n<p><strong>COCO GAUFF:<\/strong> \u201cWe\u2019re going tomorrow to get an MRI and to see what\u2019s going on. Good news is they don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be like a long-term type of situation, so I should be fine for Miami. Yeah, we\u2019ve just got to figure out exactly what it is and, I guess, how to prevent it in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q:<\/strong> Obviously you and Alex are quite friendly on tour, you play doubles and things like that together. Did she say anything to you at the net or after the match? I know she looked quite concerned for you after the match.<\/p>\n<p><strong>COCO GAUFF:<\/strong> \u201cNo, she just told me I hope I feel better and things like that. I felt really bad to pull out, you never want to pull out, but more so for her because she was playing great tennis, and I don\u2019t want to take anything away from the way that she was playing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d rather finish the match and lose 6-0, but at that point I just felt that because the pain was getting worse and I didn\u2019t know what was going on, I just felt it was better to stop. But I think she\u2019s going to have a great tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Indian Wells Open: What Coco Gauff had to say after Alex Eala match \u2013 \u2018My whole arm felt like it was on fire\u2019 Shahida Jacobs 09 Mar 2026 7:00 AM A disappointed Coco Gauff reacts during her match Coco Gauff\u2019s Indian Wells Open campaign came to an unfortunate end in the third round against Alex [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1815527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815527","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1815527"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815527\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1815527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1815527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1815527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}