World number four Coco Gauff has said she cannot relate to the pressure faced by rising Filipino star Alexandra Eala, describing her as carrying "more pressure than I do" as a trailblazer for her country. Eala, 21, made history last month by becoming the first Filipino player to win a WTA singles title and has climbed to 18th in the world rankings, with Gauff comparing her cultural significance in the Philippines to that of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. The comments came after Eala was knocked out of the US Open third round by Iva Jovic, whom Gauff will now face in the fourth round.

Eala has enjoyed a breakthrough year, reaching the Wimbledon fourth round and the US Open third round, and was honoured with a reception by Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos at Malacanang Palace after Wimbledon. She also won her second WTA 125 title in Birmingham and a maiden WTA 500 title in Washington, with growing numbers of Filipino fans and flags now visible at her matches. Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, said that unlike Eala she had grown up with plenty of American sporting icons who had already "broken down doors" for her, making it hard to empathise beyond the general pressure of being expected to win every match.