SEEKING another splash in the 'Sunshine Double,' Alex Eala has moved a step ahead before even hitting a ball at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Nearly one year since her breakthrough run at the Miami Open, Eala earned a first-round bye in the WTA 1000 tournament after entering as world No. 31, good for a spot among the 32 seeded players.
That puts her alongside the sport’s biggest names, including top- and second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, respectively, who also enjoyed automatic passage to the round of 64.
With the official draw yet to be released, Eala awaits her opening opponent, as she begins her campaign directly in the second round of the March 4–15 showpiece.
From Cali to Miami
Indian Wells in California marks the first leg of the traditional 'Sunshine Double,' the back-to-back U.S. hardcourt swing capped by the Miami Open, where Eala garnered a massive haul of 390 ranking points during her breakout run last year.
Those points now hang in the balance.
As the 52-week ranking cycle nears its close on her Miami milestone, Eala will need another strong showing in the desert - and beyond - to protect her career-best standing and keep her rise steady.
The Filipina is coming off a quarterfinal exit at the Dubai Tennis Championships after losing to world No. 4 Coco Gauff who is also playing in the BNP Paribas Open.
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