WHILE most players would rather not be on the other side of the net against Alex Eala, Coco Gauff embraced the moment.
The world No. 4 never once complained about the noise during their one-hour-and-seven-minute clash, where she came out firing from the get-go to end Eala’s Dubai dream run, 6-0, 6-2, early Friday morning, Manila time.
READ Coco Gauff ends Alex Eala's Dubai dream run
For Gauff, she'd rather be playing before a packed crowd of hostile fans than in a stadium filled with empty seats.
“I know you're mostly supporting Alex, but it's great to be on a crowded court. I played this tournament for many years, and to see the stadium full, that means a lot,” she said, addressing the predominantly Filipino crowd on Center Court.
Gauff also made sure to acknowledge Eala’s growing impact on the sport.
“I'd like to thank Alex for bringing a new demographic to the sport I really appreciate, I think it’s great. It's tough to play against a 'home crowd’ but I think that it's great for the sport. So keep being enthusiastic and keep rooting for your player.”
For Gauff, it wasn’t just about shutting the door early as she knew a Eala can flip a match in a blink.
“I was a bit better today, Alex is a tough competitor, even when I was up, I knew that she could come back at any given moment. I’ve seen her do it before,” said Gauff, owner of two Grand Slam titles at the US Open and Roland Garros.
Before this, Gauff partnered with Eala in doubles in last year's Italian Open where they reached the quarterfinals. But playing against her, the 21-year old turned Eala’s electrifying fan energy into fuel, raising her level after an off night last Thursday that saw her barely survive a thriller against Elise Mertens.
She added: “Whenever they cheer for Alex, I was pretending it was my name, and I think it helped me a lot. If you can't beat them, you've got to join them. I mean, we’re getting the business end of the tournament.”
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