I can't relate to pressure Eala faces - Gauff

Alexandra Eala waves to fans after losing to Iva Jovic during the 2026 US Open

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Alexandra Eala beat Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova to reach the US Open third round

ByBen CollinsBBC Sport journalist

Published9 minutes ago

World number four Coco Gauff says she "can't really empathise" with rising Filipino star Alexandra Eala because "she has more pressure than I do".

Eala became the first Filipino to win a WTA singles title last month and has risen to 18th in the world rankings.

After losing to Iva Jovic in the third round of the US Open, the 21-year-old got emotional when talking about the huge support she gets from the Philippines.

Gauff will now meet Jovic in the fourth round and the 22-year-old American was asked if she can relate to what Eala, with whom she has played doubles, has to cope with.

"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," said Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam winner.

"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 US, 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 really empathise in that aspect. The only way I can is maybe just the hype of everyone expecting you to win every single match."

On her US Open debut last year, Eala became the first Filipino player to win a match during the Open era, and has this year reached the fourth round at Wimbledon as well as the third round at Flushing Meadows.

After Wimbledon, she returned home to a reception held by Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos in her honour at Malacanang Palace in Manila.

Eala won her second WTA 125 singles title at Birmingham in June before claiming her maiden WTA 500 title at the Washington Open, with Filipino fans and flags becoming more prominent at her matches.

"From the outside looking in, she has more pressure," Gauff added.

"I have a lot of respect for her and what she's doing, but I can't really empathise. I feel like she has more pressure than I do."