“I’m Lucky To Be From US” – Coco Gauff Explains Why She ‘Can’t Empathize’ With Alex Eala Despite Hailing Filipina
After her third-round victory over Cristina Bucsa, Coco Gauff was asked about the Philippines’ rising star Alexandra Eala and her potential influence on her home country. Gauff praised Eala, noting that she has broken many barriers as a Filipino player, and compared her efforts to those of former heavyweight boxer Manny Pacquiao, who put the Philippines on the global sports map.
Coco Gauff, a U.S. tennis player, expressed her inability to empathize with fellow Filipino athlete Alexandra Eala, despite sharing a similar nationality. Gauff praised Eala for breaking barriers in Filipino tennis, comparing her efforts to those of Manny Pacquiao, a former heavyweight boxer who had put the Philippines on the global sports map.
However, when asked about handling the pressure Eala faced to carry her nation's hopes, Gauff stated she couldn't empathize with Eala's pressure because she benefited from numerous tennis role models in the U.S. She likened the pressure Eala faces to the expectation of winning every single match, but acknowledged that Eala likely has more pressure from the outside looking in.
Gauff also mentioned that Eala's family is always at her tournaments, showing their support, and that she and Eala are friends. Eala's third-round match at the US Open ended with a loss to home favorite Iva Jovic, and Gauff is set to face Jovic in the Round of 16 on Monday.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
