{
  "id": 6138340,
  "title": "'Like Manny Pacquiao': Coco Gauff praises Alex Eala's Philippines impact",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/like-manny-pacquiao-coco-gauff-praises-alex-ealas-philippines-impact-6138340",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-07T11:54:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis/2026/09/07/like-manny-pacquiao-coco-gauff-praises-alex-ealas-philippines-impact/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Coco Gauff has commended the influence Alex Eala is having on sports in the Philippines, drawing a comparison to legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao's fame was such that it reportedly led to a drop in crime rates across the country when he fought, as everyone tuned in to watch his matches. At just 21 years old, Eala is rapidly becoming a prominent figure in Filipino sports, having clinched her second WTA 125 singles title at Birmingham in June and her maiden WTA 500 title at the Mubadala DC Open in August. Filipino supporters and flags adorned the grounds at all her matches worldwide. Gauff, who was set to face Eala in the fourth round at the US Open but was defeated by Iva Jovic, commented on the pressure Eala faces from her growing fanbase at home. Gauff stated, \"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.\" She noted that while Pacquiao had a similar impact on his country, Gauff, being from the US, had access to numerous role models who paved the way for her. Gauff acknowledged that Eala likely has more pressure than she does, given the massive expectations surrounding her. She added, \"I can't really empathize with that aspect. The only way I can relate is maybe the hype of everyone expecting you to win every single match.\" Eala has climbed to the No 18 position in the world, the highest ranking for a South Asian female player. She is set to play a homecoming match against Indonesia's Janice Tjen in Bulacan on December 8, expected to draw a 55,000-strong crowd.",
  "summary": "Coco Gauff has praised the impact Alex Eala is making on sport in the Philippines, likening her popularity to that of legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao. It was famously said that the crime rate in the Philippines dropped to zero when eight-weight world champion Pacquiao fought, as the entire country stopped to watch his bouts. Eala, 21, is fast becoming the next big thing in Filipino sport after a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}