Coco Gauff shares words for Alex Eala faithful following convincing Dubai victory

Coco Gauff cruised past Alexandra Eala in straight sets, sending the Filipina star out of the Dubai Open.

After a 6-0 opening set and a 4-0 deficit in the second, there were fears she might not get on the scoreboard at all.

Eala did show some resilience to pull a few games back, but Gauff closed it out comfortably, despite much of the crowd clearly hoping for an upset.

Even though most of the support was against her, Gauff appreciated how vocal the fans were for Eala throughout.

Coco Gauff reacts after beating Alexandra Eala

Speaking on court, Gauff rated her performance, having dominated throughout despite a small wobble in the second set.

She said: “It was a bit better today. I could have served a little bit better, but I made it in when it mattered. Alex is a tough competitor, and I knew that she could come back at any given moment. I have seen her do it before.”

The Filipina crowd was clearly the source of that fear, which Gauff went on to acknowledge: “Thank you guys for coming out here. I know you were mostly supporting Alex, but I have to say that it’s great to be on a crowded court. I have played this tournament for many years, and to see the stadium full means a lot.

“Also, I would like to thank Alex for bringing a new demographic to the sport. I really appreciate it. It’s great, I know sometimes it’s tough when you’re playing against a home crowd, but I think it’s great for the sport. So keep being enthusiastic and rooting for your player.”

Gauff explained she used a similar approach in Paris last year when facing Lois Boisson, another match where she was not backed by the home fans.

“I had a similar match at the French Open last year, so I brought that mindset today.

“Whenever you guys were cheering for Alex, I was pretending it was my name, and I think that helped me a lot. If you can’t beat them, join them!

“It’s just confidence and the serve. Just being confident with that shot. Each match has gotten better. I wasn’t in good spirits before this tournament, but one match can change everything.

“I didn’t think I would be in the semis to start the week, but I’m happy that I’m here.”

Alexandra Eala’s remarkable run in Dubai

Eala’s strong showing in Dubai comes at a good time, especially with the Miami Open just around the corner, where she will have points to defend from last year’s semifinal appearance.

It was that run in Miami that first got people talking about her, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Her Dubai campaign started with a win over Hailey Baptiste, who retired early in the second set.

She then knocked out Jasmine Paolini for her third top-ten victory, setting up a meeting with Sorana Cîrstea in the Round of 16.

Facing Cîrstea was no small task, but the 20-year-old handled it well and ended the Romanian’s seven-match winning streak without too much trouble.

While Gauff ultimately proved too strong this time, Eala’s profile continues to rise as she gains more experience against top-level opponents.

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