Eala, 20, was leading 6-2, 2-0 when Gauff threw in the towel, having received treatment on her left arm during an injury timeout late in the final set.
A trainer worked on Gauff’s shoulder and arm and after she was broken in the final game of the opening set, returned to wrap her forearm.
It was to no avail, and Gauff went to the net and told Eala she was calling it a day after dropping her serve in the second game of the second set.
“I really didn’t want to win this way,” Eala said.
“But this is still a really big moment for me to be able to play on Stadium One of Indian Wells and against such a great competitor,” she added, wishing Gauff a speedy recovery.
Eala will face Czech Linda Noskova for a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka powered past Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1 to reach the fourth round.
The Belarusian star belted 23 winners in an impressive display against her 35th-ranked opponent and will next face 16th-seeded Naomi Osaka of Japan, who earlier defeated Colombia’s Camila Osorio.
There were a few blips, notably a double fault on break point as she served for the opening set.
Sabalenka responded by breaking Cristian to pocket the set and was satisfied with an overpowering performance.
“I knew that she was not going to give up easily,” she said.
“That’s why I was super-focused, especially on my serve. I didn’t want to give her much opportunity so super-happy with the serving, with the game and of course with the win.”
In the men’s draw, Jannik Sinner took another step toward a first Indian Wells ATP Masters title, easing past Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-2 to reach the fourth round.
After dropping just two games in his second-round opener against Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina, Sinner was caught napping to drop his serve in the opening game.
He responded with confidence against a potentially tricky opponent known for producing winners.
Sinner quickly recouped the break and grabbed another in the eighth game.
“It’s a very tough second match for me,” Sinner said. “He’s a very high quality player. He had great wins in the past so I’m very happy about today’s performance.”
With one set in his pocket Sinner was in full control in the second, opening with a break on the way to a 5-2 lead and closing it out with a love game.
“I tried to stay solid on the baseline but also a bit more aggressive in the second set,” Sinner said. “It was a tough start for me with a break down but I’m happy how I reacted.” (AFP)
Edited by Tony Sabine
