Coco Gauff was in great spirits after beating Alexandra Eala in Dubai, joking that it was "tough to play against a home crowd" and funnily adding that she pretended the crowd was actually there for her.
For context, Eala received very strong support at the Australian Open, mostly from the Filipino diaspora. Nothing changed in that department in the Middle East as the 20-year-old saw the stands full of Filipino fans in Doha last week, and Dubai this week.
Since an Eala vs Gauff matchup was very attractive – and knowing that the Filipina's fans would flock the stands – it was a safe bet that the stadium would be full for their quarterfinal match. And exactly that was the case.
While Eala had the crowd on her side – who was constantly cheering on her – the world No. 47 couldn't even threaten Gauff as the No. 3 seed completed a dominant 6-2 6-0 win in just over an hour of play.
Gauff: Whenever you guys were cheering for Eala, I was pretending it was my name
“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," the 21-year-old American said in her on-court interview.
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 (laughing). I think it’s great for the sport. Keep being enthusiastic and keep rooting for your player."
Coco Gauff had kind words for Alex Eala and her fans after beating her in Dubai:
“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… pic.twitter.com/ULVMS88JWp
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 19, 2026
That wasn't the end of Gauff's jokes.
“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," the reigning French Open champion added.
Coco Gauff after beating Alex Eala to reach Dubai SF:
“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” 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Aw0kpf9ny9
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 19, 2026
Gauff plays Elina Svitolina in the Dubai semifinal.
