MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala is rooting for American star and world No. 4 Coco Gauff to win the US Open title in New York.
"Well, very highly stacked draw at this point, but it always is in the quarters. I have to say, though, I am rooting for Coco," said Eala in an interview with CBS Mornings Tuesday.
Gauff defeated fellow American and world No. 14 Iva Jovic in the fourth round, 6-1, 6-4, on Tuesday to book her ticket to the quarterfinals.
Gauff, who ruled the 2023 edition of the US Open, faces Russian and world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva on Thursday for a semifinal spot.
"Last night was really good. I did watch her and Iva (Jovic) both played amazing. But yeah, I think Coco's been on such a good run recently."
World No. 18 Eala praised Gauff's fortitude and physical gifts.
"Well, I think that more than anything, what I look up to Coco for is her grit and the mentality she has," said Eala, who fell to Jovic in the third round, 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, last Sunday.
"Of course, she's a beast and she's physically amazing. Great shot. So much power. But yeah, I love her mentality."
Eala and Gauff split their two matches while having also teamed up at the Italian Open doubles last year.
The 21-year-old Eala developed her friendship with the 22-year-old Gauff, who also praised the Filipino's ability to handle pressure.
"I can't emphasize [that] 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, and when you speak of athletes from the Philippines, I mean, she's doing similar things with what Manny Pacquiao is doing for her country," said Gauff in her US Open third-round post-match presser.
"I'm lucky to be from the US where we had a lot of icons to look up to, and people who've already broken down doors for me to be here where I am, so I can't really emphasize in that aspect.
"I think the only way I can [relate] is maybe just the hype of everybody expecting you to win every single match. I guess I can't emphasize on that standpoint, but I definitely think she probably has more pressure, or, well, I don't know, from the outside looking in, has more pressure.”
