Coco Gauff shared her honest reaction about Filipino fans cheering for her opponent at the Dubai Tennis Championships. She lauded their enthusiasm, encouraging them to keep supporting their player.
On Thursday, Gauff met Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinal round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Showcasing her dominant skills, the American grabbed a stunning triumph, claiming a straight-set (6-0, 6-2) victory. However, the road to this win wasn’t easy for her, as the Filipino crowd favored Eala, continuously cheering for her during the clash.
It could have been a major distraction for the 21-year-old; however, she turned the situation to her favor by keeping herself positive and looking at the good side of the audience. She revealed this mindset in her post-match interview, where she made her feelings known about Eala’s fan’s enthusiasm and support even though it wasn’t for her.
Thanking them for a full stadium and for supporting their player, she said:
“Thank you guys for coming out here. I know you were mostly supporting Alex, but I have to say, it’s great to be on a crowded court. I’ve played this tournament for many years, and to see the stadium full… it means a lot. I’d like to thank Alex for bringing a new demographic to the sport. It’s great. Sometimes it’s tough when you’re playing against a home crowd. I think it’s great for the sport. Keep being enthusiastic and keep rooting for your player.”
The American is now all set to compete in the semifinals on Friday against Elina Svitolina.
How Did Coco Gauff Handle One-Sided Crowd at Dubai Tennis Championships’ Quarterfinals?
After beating Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinal round, Coco Gauff attended her on-court interview. Here, she spoke about the one-sided crowd who wholeheartedly supported her on-court rival during the showdown. However, she did not let it take a toll on her, as she drew experience from previous such matches and imagined her name in the cheers rather than her contender’s.
Revealing this, she said:
“Honestly, I had a similar match at French Open last year, so, I brought that mindset today of just whenever you guys were cheering for Alex, I was pretending it was my name. I think it helped me a lot. If you can’t beat em, you gotta join em.”
She further reflected on her performance on the court and also made her feelings known about Eala, calling her a strong contender:
“Yeah, I was a bit better today. I could’ve served a little bit better, but I made it in when it mattered, and yeah, Alex is a tough competitor. Even when I was up, I knew that she can come back at any given moment. I have seen her do it before.”
Coco Gauff kicked off her 2026 season at the United Cup and then went on to compete in the first Grand Slam of the season at the Australian Open. After delivering clinical performances in the first four rounds, she fell short of advancing to the semifinals after losing to Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.
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