“That’s Pinsan!”: Coco Gauff Earns Filipino Support After Embracing Alex Eala Crowd

 (SPOT.ph) If there’s one thing you can count on at a match featuring Alex Eala, it’s this: the stands won’t be quiet. The Filipina tennis star has been drawing packed stands in international tournaments, where overseas Filipino fans—many of them new to the sport—have been loud and proud in their support. Not everyone online has loved the volume, but one top-ranked opponent made it clear she’s all for it.

After beating Eala 6–0, 6–2 in a quarterfinal match on February 19 (February 20 in Manila) at the Dubai Tennis Championships, World No. 4 Coco Gauff took a moment to speak to the crowd during her on-court interview.

“I know you’re mostly supporting Alex but I have to say it is great to be on a crowded court. I’ve played this tournament for many years and to see the stadium full—it means a lot,” Gauff said. “I’d like to thank Alex for bringing in a new demographic to the sport.”

Gauff acknowledged that playing against a heavily pro-Eala crowd could be challenging, but ultimately good for tennis: “Sometimes, it’s tough when you’re playing against a ‘home crowd,’ but I think it’ great for the sport so keep being enthusiastic and keep rooting for your player.”

Instead of letting the noise get to her, she leaned into it.

“Whenever you guys are cheering for Alex, I was pretending that it was my name. I think that it helped me a lot,” Gauff laughed. “If you can’t beat them, you’ve got to join them.” 

Also read: Who Is Alex Eala, the Filipina Tennis Star Making Headlines Now?

Gauff's interview made rounds on social media, where Filipino fans responded the way they usually do when someone shows us a little love: by adopting her as one of our own. Scroll through the comments and you’ll see the jokes piling up:

"May bago na naman tayong pinsan."

"Coco just secured her invite to the kamayan."

"She's our pinsan now. Filipinos are gonna be cheering for her just as loud."

"Coco, you want lumpia and pancit?"

"Coco Gauff? Nah. You're Maria Cori Dionne 'Coco' Delos Santos Garcia now."

It’s not Gauff and Eala’s first time on the court together. They previously partnered in doubles at the 2025 Italian Open before facing each other in singles in Dubai. After their quarterfinals, Eala congratulated the American tennis player in an Instagram Story.

The buzz comes amid ongoing conversations about crowd behavior during Eala’s matches. Filipinos have long been passionate sports fans, but it’s Eala’s rise that has brought this kind of turnout to tennis. At the 2026 Australian Open, organizers were criticized for placing her on the smaller Court 6, leaving hundreds of fans watching from a big screen outside. Some critics questioned the noise from new supporters, while others—including 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic—described the packed stands as a “good problem.”

Gauff echoed that view in a separate press conference later that day.

“I think tennis needs more of this,” Gauff said. “I think it’s great, just to see a nation so proud of someone, especially a nation that is pretty underrepresented in this sport. I think it’s pretty cool to see,” Gauff said. “You can’t buy that. I see why people want to root for her, and I root for her when I’m not playing her, of course.”

Eala currently sits at world No. 31 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.

Also read: Why Alex Eala's Defeat Still Felt Like a Win for the Philippines