Coco Gauff Can’t Relate to Pressure Alexandra Eala Is Dealing with Amid Massive Filipino Support

Coco Gauff continued her winning ways with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Cristina Bucsa in the third round of the US Open on Saturday (September 5). She will next be up against a player who ended the campaign of Alexandra Eala.

It’s countrywoman Iva Jovic, who overcame Eala 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 and reached the fourth round of her home Slam for the first time in her career. Gauff has faced Eala multiple times and has also admitted that she was amazed by the crowd support the 21-year-old gets.

But Gauff, who also carries the hope of the Americans on her shoulders, cannot empathize with the pressure the Filipina trailblazer has to deal with due to the massive support from her compatriots. The 22-year-old believes Eala has more pressure than she does.

No, I can’t at all. Because she’s the first Filipino player to break a lot of the barriers that she’s done. Especially on the female side, when you speak of athletes from the Philippines, she’s doing similar things to what Manny Pacquiao is doing for her country. I’m lucky to be from the U.S., where we had a lot of icons to look up to. People who have already broken down doors for me to be here where I am. I can’t empathize in that aspect.

Eala reached the third round of the US Open for the first time in her career. She produced her best Grand Slam performance when she reached the fourth round of this year’s Wimbledon.

The only way I can is maybe just like the hype of everyone expecting you to win every single match. I guess I can empathize on that standpoint. But I definitely think she has more pressure, from the outside looking in, she has more pressure. As far as our relationship, Alex and I are friends. Her family reminds me so much of mine. She has a brother. Both of her parents are usually with her at tournaments.

Coco Gauff added in the press conference

Gauff, who has played doubles with Eala, said she would like to know her more. The two youngsters went for dinner together for the first time in Toronto, where they competed at the Canadian Open. Eala lost to Belinda Bencic in the fourth round in Toronto, while Gauff lost to eventual runner-up Elena Rybakina.

Coco Gauff on her match against Cristina Bucsa

Coco Gauff faced Cristina Bucsa for the second time in a singles event. They, in fact, met for the first time in the second round of the 2023 Indian Wells.

She’s a tricky player. She can sometimes speed it up and slow it down. So it was tough for me to get a rhythm, but I’m just happy with how I fought through, even when I wasn’t playing my best.

Coco Gauff said after the match (H/T: WTA Tour)

Gauff is chasing her second title of the season. Before arriving at Flushing Meadows, the two-time Grand Slam singles champion ended her title drought at the Cincinnati Open by defeating countrywoman Jessica Pegula.

Gauff will be facing Iva Jovic for the second time in her career, following their clash in the fourth round of the Italian Open. Jovic, who made her Grand Slam debut at the 2024 US Open, produced her best Grand Slam performance when she reached the quarterfinals of this year’s Australian Open, losing the match to eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff will dethrone the Belarusian from the No.1 ranking if she wins her second US Open title and World No.2 Elena Rybakina loses before the semifinals. Sabalenka is bidding to complete the three-peat here.

Also read: Madison Keys Gives Heartbreaking Reality on her US Open Collapse Against Qinwen Zheng