Fresh off a strong showing at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Alexandra Eala is set to make her debut at Indian Wells.

Now seeded for the tournament, she will not face another seed until at least the third round. This should give her a better path through the early stages.

Eala’s rise has been steady, and she has just hit a new career high of world number 32 after solid runs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Manila.

As she gets ready for her first Masters 1000 event of the year, her preparation shows a level-headed approach to what will be another step up in competition.

Alexandra Eala chooses singles over doubles at Indian Wells

Eala has decided to skip the doubles competition at Indian Wells, a move that comes after she has already packed her schedule with multiple doubles events earlier in the season.

She teamed up with Janice Tjen, Iva Jovic, and Ingrid Martins at the ASB Classic, Abu Dhabi Open, and Australian Open respectively.

The 20-year-old has had some good results in doubles play, but balancing both formats is not easy when singles success is her top priority.

This time around, Eala will not be featured in the Indian Wells doubles draw – a choice that should help her manage her workload better.

With only singles to focus on and a seeded spot secured, she is in a strong position to make an impact.

She will want to pick up as many ranking points as possible ahead of defending her semi-final run from last year’s Miami Open.

Alexandra Eala could soon be forced to level up

The 20-year-old star has made a remarkable climb over the past year but could find herself plateauing unless she can take another significant step forward. While she is closing in on the top 30, breaking into the top 20 will require an even bigger leap.

The difference in points between players ranked just outside the top 30 and those inside the top 20 is substantial. For instance, Anna Kalinskaya currently holds around a 400-point advantage over Eala from her spot at number 23.

To keep rising, she will need to consistently reach the later stages of tournaments or make a breakthrough by winning a major event.

Read more: