Author: admin

Iga Swiatek has taken to social media to comment on her “tough” exit at the 2026 Indian Wells Open as she looked ahead to the Miami Open.

The six-time Grand Slam champion was beaten 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 by world No 9 Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament.

Swiatek had been in fine form in the Californian desert prior to her defeat to the 31-year-old Ukrainian, having dropped just 13 games in her opening three matches.

The two-time Indian Wells winner started her campaign in Tennis Paradise with a 6-0, 7-6(2) victory over 187th-ranked American qualifier Kayla Day before she defeated world No 34 Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2 in the third round.

The Pole then dismantled world No 13 Karolina Muchova — who was on an eight-match winning streak — 6-2, 6-0 in the last 16.

Swiatek now holds a 4-2 record against Svitolina, who she had defeated in straight sets in each of the pair’s previous three encounters.

After the match, Svitolina said: “Yeah, it was a good day for me. I played really well. I mean, I wouldn’t say it was the perfect match, but in a way, I could stay in the match and fight and find a way after losing second set. But, yeah, definitely very happy with the performance overall.”

Iga Swiatek News

Why Iga Swiatek was beaten at Indian Wells – is her aura gone for good?

Iga Swiatek: Points and prize money earned after Indian Wells Open exit

Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

What did Iga Swiatek say after her Indian Wells campaign?

In a post on her Instagram account, Swiatek gave on honest assessment of her performance against Svitolina.

“Yesterday’s match didn’t go the way I wanted,” Swiatek wrote.

“Not my best day, not best performance for sure. It’s tough, but these situations are part of sports life.

“Thank you all for the support. The hard work doesn’t stop. See you in Miami.”

Swiatek started Indian Wells as the world No 2, but she will be overtaken by Elena Rybakina when the WTA Rankings update next week.

What next for Iga Swiatek?

Swiatek will next compete at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami, where main draw action will get underway on Tuesday 17 March.

The 24-year-old will be vying for her second Miami Open crown, having triumphed in South Florida in 2022.

She holds a 12-3 record from her previous four appearances at the Miami Open.

READ NEXT: Sinner backed to end Alcaraz streak, Sabalenka’s message, Eala a big winner – Indian Wells Open roundup

The post Iga Swiatek breaks silence with candid message after ‘tough’ Indian Wells Open exit appeared first on Tennis365.

Aryna Sabalenka has made a statement of intent ahead of the 2026 Indian Wells Open title match as she asserted she is “so done” with losing big finals.

The world No 1 downed 14th-ranked Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Friday.

Sabalenka broke her 21-year-old Czech opponent three times and lost serve only once as she made it 10 consecutive sets in the Californian desert.

The four-time Grand Slam champion saw off Victoria Mboko, Naomi Osaka, Jacqueline Cristian and Himeno Sakatsume in her previous matches.

The Belarusian star will face world No 3 Elena Rybakina — who will climb to second in the rankings after the tournament — in the championship match. Rybakina overcame world No 9 Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-4 in the second semi-final.

It will be a rematch of the 2026 Australian Open final, where Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in three sets.

Indian Wells News

Indian Wells Open: Prize money and ranking points earned by Elina Svitolina and Linda Noskova

Tim Henman gives his verdict on female players competing in five-set matches at Grand Slams

Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

Sabalenka has lost six of her last 10 finals, and she was asked if she needs to find a way to get more out of herself in big finals.

“I just want to focus, if I make it to the final, I want to make sure that I get it, I get the trophy,” the 27-year-old said in her press conference.

“You know, I’m so done of losing these big finals. It felt like even though players were playing incredible tennis in those finals, I feel like I had so many opportunities that I didn’t use.

“And right now my mentality, if I make it to the final, I’ll go out there and, you know, I’ll do everything I can and everything I cannot to get that trophy.”

Sabalenka was also asked about her memories of her defeat to Rybakina in the 2023 Indian Wells final.

“I remember that it was the tiebreak, like, really tight tiebreak, and I remember I had set points, and I double-faulted,” she recalled.

“Then it was very — I feel like I remember that I was one break up. Then she broke me back. Then it was a tiebreak, crazy tiebreak. Then I lost the first set. And things didn’t really go well in the second set. That’s what I remember.

“You know, like, I feel like against Elena, it’s always super-aggressive, it’s all about the first few balls in every point. You know, if you dominate in those two points, I feel like most likely you’re gonna win the point.

“It’s very aggressive, very fast tennis. Yeah, if it’s her, I’m excited, actually.”

READ NEXT: WTA Rankings Winners & Losers Indian Wells Open: Rybakina overtakes Swiatek with Eala +4, Gibson +45

The post Aryna Sabalenka ‘so done with losing big finals’ ahead of Elena Rybakina Indian Wells showdown appeared first on Tennis365.

A big talking in point in tennis over recent weeks has been the proposal that women players play best-of-five-set matches at the Grand Slam tournaments.

This idea has been floated time and again down the years, with supporters of the plan suggesting it would be the perfect way to banish the notion that women players do not deserve equal prize money as they play fewer sets than their male counterparts.

The arguments against this proposal focus around the health of female athletes and whether they would be able to play five-set matches back-to-back in Grand Slam events, with a compromise plan possibly seeing the extended format introduced for the latter stages of the major tournament.

Craig Tiley, the former CEO at Tennis Australia who recently moved to a similar role with the United States Tennis Association, is a big supporter of the players to play five-set matches in the women’s singles at Grand Slams and he believes it could happen soon.

“One of the things I’ve been saying now is that I think there should be three out of five sets for women,” Tiley told AAP.

“We should look at the last few matches – the quarters and the semis and the finals – and make the women’s side three out of five.

More Tennis News

Patrick Mouratoglou calls for big change in women’s tennis to ‘end equal pay debate’

Female players ‘ready to handle five sets’ says WTA tour player as debate goes on

“So it’s something we should put on the agenda and start talking to the players about it because there are some matches in those last rounds which would have been fascinating had they been three out of five sets.

“Now I don’t know whether the players would want to do it or not, but it is something we need to consider on the women’s side.”

This discussion will always divide opinion and in the view of former British No 1 Tim Henman, the move to make the women’s matches longer is not needed.

Henman, who has a prominent role on the organising committee at Wimbledon, spoke exclusively to Tennis365 at a Sky Sports event in London and made his position clear.

“I wouldn’t think we need to do this, from a history and tradition standpoint,” Henman told Tennis365.

“The Grand Slams are working just fine. 
There are a lot of other changes I’d make within this sport before I start fiddling with the Grand Slams.”

Henman then outlined where he would make changes in the modern game, as he hinted the extended ATP 1000 and WTA 1000 tournaments are an issue that need to be looked at.

“The schedule needs to be looked at,” he added. “You make the schedule more relevant. I’ve said this many times before.

Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

“Look at the month of February. There is so much tennis going on all over the world and players are playing in Doha, Dubai, Rotterdam, Acapulco, Buenos Aires. and what does it all mean to the fans?

“I understand why the Masters 1000s have gone towards 12 days, but I don’t think it’s conducive to a good calendar for the players. So I’d definitely change the calendar and make sure all the tennis we see is relevant.”

Sky Sports is the year-round home of tennis. Watch the biggest stars on the ATP and WTA Tours at the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open live this March, exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW.

READ NEXT: Tim Henman admits he was ‘finding it hard to believe what he was seeing’ with Novak Djokovic

The post Tim Henman gives his verdict on female players competing in five-set matches at Grand Slams appeared first on Tennis365.

In your latest wrap from the Indian Wells Open, one minute Jack Draper is on a high after receiving a “telling message” from Novak Djokovic and the next minute he is arguing with Daniil Medvedev.

There is also news from Alex Eala as she gets a coaching offer from a former world No 4 while Elena Rybakina is set to crack a new career-high in the WTA Rankings after her run to the semi-finals.

So without further ado, here is our roundup of the biggest headlines from Tennis Paradise from the first combined ATP-WTA 1000 tournament of the 2026 tennis season.

Novak Djokovic pays tribute to conqueror Jack Draper

Tennis great Djokovic lost an enthralling clash against defending champion Jack Draper and after revealing he “ran completely out of gas” during his post-match press conference, he paid tribute to the Brit on social media.

Describing the match as a “tough night in the desert”, Djokovic sent a message to Draper as the 24-year-old continues to make his way back to full fitness following his arm injury last year.

READ: Novak Djokovic sends telling message to Jack Draper after losing Indian Wells Open blockbuster

Daniil Medvedev “sorry” over controversial call against Jack Draper

From the highs of beating Djokovic to the lows of losing against Medvedev in the quarter-final as defending champion Draper lost in straight sets.

There was one big talking point during the penultimate game of the match as Medvedev received a point after Draper was hit with a hindrance penalty and it did not go down well with the British No 1 as they exchanged words after the match.

READ: Watch as Daniil Medvedev and Jack Draper argue over hindrance call

Elena Rybakina on the rise as Iga Swiatek drops

Six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek’s defeat in the quarter-finals in Indian Wells will have an impact on her position in the WTA Rankings.

The Pole was beaten by Elina Svitolina and, with Rybakina going on to win her match against Jessica Pegula, the reigning Australian Open champion will hit a new milestone when the rankings are updated after the tournament.

READ: Elena Rybakina to overtake Iga Swiatek after Pole exits Indian Wells Open

Alex Eala and Victoria Mboko earn high praise

Rising stars Eala and Victoria Mboko have been backed to challenge for big things in the women’s game.

On the back of their performances in Indian Wells, Greg Rusedski has made some lavish predictions about the youngsters.

READ: Alex Eala gets coaching offer from former British No 1 as he makes rankings prediction

Eala finds her way to paradise

Staying with Eala as we reveal the second “message” of the day.

After the rising Filipina star’s maiden campaign at Indian Wells was ended in the round of 16 by Linda Noskova, the 20-year-old, who shot to fame during the 2025 Miami Open, took to social media to react to her debut in the California desert.

READ: Alex Eala sends 14-word social media message

Statistic suggests Jannik Sinner is the player of the decade so far

Jannik Sinner is currently No 2 in the ATP Rankings behind Carlos Alcaraz while the Spaniard has also won more Grand Slams, but a surprising statistic suggests he has been the best player of the 2020s so far.

The Italian leads Alexander Zverev, Djokovic and Alcaraz on key metric.

READ: Jannik Sinner’s latest win produced a staggering statistic Alcaraz and Djokovic can’t match

Miami Open News

The attention is starting to turn to the second leg of the Sunshine Double with the Miami Open starting on 17 March so why don’t you catch up on news about the WTA 1000 event in Florida?

Miami Open withdrawal list: 8 players out, will Novak Djokovic play after Indian Wells exit?

Miami Open: Wildcards confirmed as Venus Williams headlines 13-strong list

2026 Miami Open: What prize money and ranking points will be on offer?

The post A Djokovic message, a Medvedev-Draper argument, an offer to Eala, a new high for Rybakina – Indian Wells Open roundup appeared first on Tennis365.

Alex Eala and Victoria Mboko have emerged as the risings stars of women’s tennis over the past 12 months and now the duo have been handed some lavish predictions by a former Grand Slam finalist.

Eala has built up a huge global fanbase since she announced her arrival at the top of the game with a run to the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 event in Miami last March, with her run in that tournament including a win against Iga Swiatek.

Mboko went one better when she enjoyed a breakthrough win by winning the WTA 1000 tournament in front of her home fans in Canada last August.

Now Greg Rusedski has predicted Eala and Mboko will sustain their rise up the rankings, but the 1997 US Open runner-up insisted patience will be needed to give these 20-year-old Eala and 19-year-old Mboko time to mature.

Speaking on the latest edition of his Off Court Cuts podcast, Rusedski made some big predictions for two of the most talked-about players in women’s tennis.

More Tennis News

Alex Eala sends 14-word social media message after debut Indian Wells Open campaign

Alex Eala on her learning experience in Indian Wells – ‘I do leave with happiness’

He started with Eala and while the Filipina is set to break into the top 30 of the WTA Rankings after she pieced together some fine wins in the Indian Wells tournament over the last few days, Rusedski believes there is a lot more to come.

Rusedski had one of the best serves in tennis in the late 1990s and early 2000s and he suggested he would relish the chance to work on Eala’s serve in a bid to take her to the next level.

“With Eala, I see so much room for potential,” said Rusedski. “She’s a player I’d love to work with on her serve. I just feel like she can get more benefit out of it, more accuracy, more power.

“I think she’s gonna possibly crack the top 10 this year. That’s how good she is mentally tactically.

“She got a little bit wrong with some of her shot selection [in the 6-0, 6-2 loss to world No 14 Linda Noskova] and she wasn’t really getting much off the serve. So that’s the positive, there’s a lot of upside with her. Lots to improve.”

Canadian-born Rusedski is also a big fan of Mboko, who impressed with a run to the Indian Wells quarter-finals before he came up short against world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

“Mboko is my pick to win a major in 2027,” declared Rusedski. “Mboko has a great team around her and she is showing she can compete with the best.

“She has the physicality and I loved the way she shows that composure to win the title in front of her home fans in Canada last year.

“So I think the future is very bright for both her and Eala. It’s so good to see the youngsters doing well, but right now it looks the dominance of Sabalanka, Rybakina, Swiatek and Svitolina will continue, but the youngsters are coming.”

Mboko pressed Sabalenka all the way in a tight first set before losing 7-6(0), 6-4 and she took some confidence from her display.

“I had a lot of chances in the first set,” said Mboko after the Sabalenka match. “It’s unfortunate that I was unable to kind of take them as much as I could, but she was playing really well, especially on pressure points. I gotta give credit to her there.

“I feel like sometimes I was maybe one or two points away from kind of maybe changing how the first set would have gone and changing the momentum.”

READ NEXT: Victoria Mboko’s Indian Wells prize money & ranking points revealed after exit

The post Alex Eala gets coaching offer from former British No 1 as he makes rankings prediction appeared first on Tennis365.

Daniil Medvedev admitted that he “didn’t feel great” after he was awarded a controversial point during a crucial stage of his quarter-final win over Jack Draper at the Indian Wells Open.

After a dominant opening set from Medvedev as he broke twice to take a 6-1 lead, Draper put up a better fight in the second as they remained on serve until the 10th game of the set.

Then it all went pear-shaped for Draper on his serve at 5-5 [15-0] as he was called for hindrance and, after a video review, chair umpire Aurelie Tourte gave the point to Medvedev.

But the Brit was unhappy with his opponent as Medvedev finished the rally before deciding to complain and request a video review.

The world No 11 ended up breaking Draper’s serve and then served out the match for a 6-1, 7-5 win that earned him a semi-final match-up against world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

ATP News

Novak Djokovic sends telling message to Jack Draper after losing Indian Wells Open blockbuster

Jannik Sinner’s latest win produced a staggering statistic Alcaraz and Djokovic can’t match

The pair exchanged words, albeit all very friendly, during the post-match handshake at the net and it went as follows:

Medvedev: “If you are mad with me, I’m sorry.”

Draper: “No, I’m not all.”

Medvedev: “But I would understand.”

Draper: “I don’t think it distracted you enough. That’s what I’m saying.”

Medvedev: “I could say it’s true.”

Draper: “It’s a fair call, you won the match fair and square, but I don’t think it distracted you at all.”

Medvedev: “I don’t feel great.”

Draper: “No, no, it’s fine, it’s a fair call, I just don’t think it distracted you.”

Medvedev: “I understand.”

Your call: Hindrance or not?#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/5Ko8GUncJk

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 13, 2026

During his post-match press conference, Medvedev was asked about the incident and replied: “Now I can actually even talk more, because I have more info. I think I should have done it the moment it happened, like, I should not have waited until the end of the point, and then it would be a bit more, probably available.

“But if you look at my first forehand, I do, after this happens, I could have gone for more. I was kind of tiny bit distracted. So I said to the umpire, like, ‘What should I do? Should I do it next time straightaway?’ And she goes, like, ‘If you want, you can video review.’ I said, ‘Okay, video review.’

“And whatever she decides, she decides, and she decided that it’s a point for me. So I take it.

“That’s basically it. Was I distracted big time? No. Was I distracted a bit? Yes. Is it enough to win the point? I don’t know.”

Medvedev was also asked if things were “okay” with Draper after the match.

“I think so, I mean, it’s more a question for him because, right, because I would be okay with him after what happened, so it’s more a question to him,” he said.

“I think we have a great relationship, so I don’t think one incident like this could make the outcome, especially, as again, I told him straightaway, if she thinks it’s not enough, 15-All, we go on. If she thinks it’s enough, well, then, it’s Love-30, I’m sorry, and that’s what happened.”

He added: “As I say, if you look on the first forehand I do after it happened, I think I could have done a better shot if there was no gesture from Jack.

“So as I say, was I distracted big time? No. Do I feel good about it? Not really. But I also don’t feel like I cheated or something.

“So I got a bit distracted. I let it go, I let the referee decide. I had a lot of calls against me in my life, and I usually don’t handle them well. To get one on my side, I guess feels good as well.”

The post Indian Wells Open: Watch as Daniil Medvedev and Jack Draper argue over hindrance call appeared first on Tennis365.

Elena Rybakina has secured a new milestone in the WTA Rankings on the back of Iga Swiatek’s quarter-final exit from the Indian Wells Open.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Swiatek’s No 2 position in the WTA Rankings has been under threat from Rybakina since the Kazakh star won the Australian Open at the start of the season.

After failing to make the most of her opportunities during the Middle East swing, Rybakina finally got the job done at the Indian Wells Open by reaching the semi-final of the WTA 1000 event.

Swiatek looked to be back to her best when she beat Karolina Muchova in the round of 16, but she lost her last-four encounter against Elina Svitolina in three sets, and it presented Rybakina with a golden chance to move ahead by beating Jessica Pegula.

And she took that opportunity with both hands as she beat the fifth-seeded American 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) to secure her place in the semi-final against Svitolina.

Indian Wells Open News

Victoria Mboko’s Indian Wells prize money & ranking points revealed after exit

Karolina Muchova, Sonay Kartal, Belinda Bencic, Katerina Siniakova prize money and ranking points

“I think the quality of the match was good. I started pretty well, very aggressive, and the serve was working today,” Rybakina said after her victory.

“In the second set, of course Jessica, she’s a tough player. I felt that I played a little bit passive. She took the opportunity, got the lead.

“Yeah, after, it was a fight for each game, a lot of close rallies. Yeah, was just trying to fight and find a way. In the end, everything worked out.”

What It Means For The Rankings

Swiatek started the tournament with a 335-point lead over Rybakina, but the Pole was defending 390 points from the 2025 edition while her quarter-final appearance is worth only 215 points.

It means she will drop 175 points and will finish the California event on 7,413 points.

Rybakina, meanwhile, had only 120 points to defend from last year and by reaching the semi-final, she is guaranteed to earn 390 points so she is effectively +270, which takes her to 7,523.

That gap, of course, will increase if she reaches the final or wins the title.

But for now, she won’t be able to catch world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka as the four-time Grand Slam winner has a 2,800-point lead over Rybakina in the Live Rankings.

For Swiatek, it will be the first time since August 2025 that she won’t be in the top two of the rankings as she dropped down the list last year on the back of her failure to defend her French Open crown.

The post WTA Rankings: Elena Rybakina to overtake Iga Swiatek after Pole exits Indian Wells Open appeared first on Tennis365.

Victoria Mboko impressed with a strong run to the Indian Wells quarter-final, though her campaign was ultimately ended by world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday.

World No 10 Mboko had produced some impressive performances during her debut appearance in Tennis Paradise, with her round-four win over sixth seed Amanda Anisimova perhaps the highlight of her time in the desert.

However, her singles campaign drew to a close inside Stadium 1 against Sabalenka, with the world No 1 ultimately too strong in a 7-6(0), 6-4 triumph.

Tennis News

Jack Draper makes ‘struggling with confidence’ comment after Novak Djokovic Indian Wells Open win

Alex Eala sends 14-word social media message after debut Indian Wells Open campaign

Defeat for the Canadian brings an end to her time in Indian Wells, having previously exited the women’s doubles event.

Mboko also reached the quarter-final of the doubles tournament, partnered with close friend Mirra Andreeva, though the two were beaten by fifth seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic.

Here, we look at the prize money and ranking points earned by Mboko in Indian Wells.

What ranking points did Mboko earn?

Sizable ranking points are on offer in Indian Wells, with this year’s women’s singles champion set to take home a staggering 1,000 points for their ranking.

However, Mboko will also be well-rewarded for her campaign.

The Canadian guaranteed herself 10 ranking points by entering the draw in round two — after a round one bye — and victories in round two, round three, and round four have significantly boosted her points haul.

After her quarter-final exit, Mboko will take home 215 ranking points for reaching the last eight, and is projected to hold 3,351 points next Monday, according to the Live WTA Rankings.

Mboko is provisionally up one place to a career-high of world No 9 in the WTA Rankings, and she will officially achieve this ranking next Monday unless 14th seed Linda Noskova lifts the title.

Meanwhile, both she and Andreeva will earn 215 points in the WTA Doubles Rankings after their run to the last eight.

What prize money did Mboko earn?

Indian Wells is one of the most prestigious events on the WTA calendar, and big prize money is on offer — with this year’s men’s and women’s singles stars both set to take home $1,151,380.

Entering the draw in the second round, Mboko guaranteed herself at least $36,110 in winnings, with $61,865 for reaching the third round, and then $105,720 for reaching the fourth round.

However, by reaching the last eight in Tennis Paradise, the 19-year-old will ultimately take home a payout of $193,645 for her singles campaign.

Meanwhile, she and Andreeva will take home $66,570 for their run to the doubles quarter-final.

Doubles prize money is split between the two players, meaning Mboko will take home $33,285 in winnings for her exploits.

From her singles and doubles campaigns, Mboko will take home a total of $226,930 in prize money from Indian Wells.

The Canadian is set to return to action at the Miami Open next week, having made her debut at the WTA 1000 event twelve months ago.

Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

Read Next: Novak Djokovic’s Indian Wells prize money and ranking points revealed after exit

The post Victoria Mboko’s Indian Wells prize money & ranking points revealed after exit appeared first on Tennis365.

Jack Draper candidly admitted he is “struggling with confidence” in his game after his victory against Novak Djokovic at the 2026 Indian Wells Open.

The world No 14 fought back to clinch a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) win over third-ranked Djokovic in a captivating last 16 showdown at Tennis Paradise.

Draper, who is the defending champion in Indian Wells, was playing only his sixth match since making his comeback from a bone injury in his left arm in February.

Prior to his return in Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie with Norway at the start of last month, Draper had not played a match since he pulled out of the US Open in August.

Speaking to Sky Sports after his first win over 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, Draper described playing in Indian Wells as a “blessing” after the “hell” of his injury.

“I’m a little bit overwhelmed right now, to be honest,” said the Brit. “Just to be here in Indian Wells, I was saying to the guys in my team last night that, to be here is a blessing after the hell I’ve gone through with the arm injury I had.

“To be out here, to play against Novak, someone I’ve grown up admiring, watching and idolising since I was a kid, and to come through on this stage, it means incredible amounts to me.”

Indian Wells News

Novak Djokovic sends telling message to Jack Draper after losing Indian Wells Open blockbuster

Indian Wells Open: Novak Djokovic highlights crucial moment that ‘cost’ him during Jack Draper defeat

Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

The 24-year-old then spoke with honesty about a lack of confidence in his game.

“Look, I still feel like I’m struggling to play the way I want to play,” Draper said. “I’m struggling with my confidence in my game a little bit. I’m trying to problem-solve, I’m trying to be more aggressive.

“I think I was quite defensive and waiting for him to miss a lot of the time, and I think in the second and third I picked it up a little bit, I was trying to put more pace on my ball.

“Novak’s someone who’s not just gonna give it to you, so I think I did a good job of just… a lot of willpower, a lot of determination. Hopefully I can get better from here.”

Draper also bluntly described failing to serve the match out at 5-4 in the third set as a “huge choke.”

“Look, it was a huge choke. It was a tough game,” he confessed.

“It went so fast, but then I knew that I was still 5-5, I still had a big opportunity in the match and I had to forget about it and move on and do my best for the tiebreak and just try my hardest every point and compete for every ball like crazy.”

Asked if he was confident he will recover for his quarter-final match against Daniil Medvedev, Draper said: “Yeah, 100%. I’ve been really happy with the way my body’s been holding up.

“Obviously, it’s one thing coming back from injury, but just because you’re on court, it doesn’t mean that your body’s not getting used to the high level of tennis that we’re playing and what we’re putting our bodies through.”

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic ‘ran out of gas’, Naomi Osaka ‘tricked’, Emma Raducanu ‘one-dimensional’ – Indian Wells Open roundup

The post Jack Draper makes ‘struggling with confidence’ comment after Novak Djokovic Indian Wells Open win appeared first on Tennis365.

Alex Eala has shared a 14-word message on social media to reflect on reaching the last 16 at the Indian Wells Open in her debut campaign at the event.

The world No 32’s run at the WTA 1000 tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden ended with a heavy 6-0, 6-2 loss to world No 14 Linda Noskova on Tuesday.

Eala lost serve five times and was unable to break her 21-year-old Czech opponent in a fourth round match that lasted just 55 minutes.

Despite the difficult conclusion, there were plenty of positives for Eala to take from her first experience of Tennis Paradise.

After receiving a bye as a seeded player, Eala overcame world No 52 Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in a hard-fought second round match.

The Filipina star then recorded her fourth win against a top 10 player when world No 4 Coco Gauff was forced to retire in the pair’s third round match — with Eala leading 6-2, 2-0.

Alex Eala News

Alex Eala prize money and ranking points earned from Indian Wells Open run

Alex Eala on her learning experience in Indian Wells – ‘I do leave with happiness’

Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

In a post on her Instagram account, Eala shared photos from her time in Indian Wells along with a short message.

“Finally found my way to paradise,” wrote the 20-year-old.

“Thank you Indian Wells, see you next year.”

What next for Alex Eala?

Eala will next compete at the Miami Open — where she achieved a sensational breakthrough result last year by reaching the semi-finals as a wildcard.

Following her exit in Indian Wells, Eala looked ahead to her return to Miami and declared that she is “here to stay.”

“I can’t speak for the future and what will actually happen when I arrive in Miami,” Eala said. “Miami last year was a beautiful time for me and it was the start of all of this, but since then I’ve achieved a lot as well.

“I’ve grown a lot and I’ve had so many good matches, so many tough losses, so much experience since then. And that’s helped me build confidence, self-esteem, and I know that I belong here.

“So it doesn’t matter if I win the tournament in Miami or if I lose in the first round, I know I’m here and I’m here to stay.”

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic ‘ran out of gas’, Naomi Osaka ‘tricked’, Emma Raducanu ‘one-dimensional’ – Indian Wells Open roundup

The post Alex Eala sends 14-word social media message after debut Indian Wells Open campaign appeared first on Tennis365.