Alexandra Eala posts Coco Gauff message on Instagram after Dubai defeat
Alexandra Eala’s impressive run in Dubai came to an end yesterday, with Coco Gauff picking up a straight-sets win to advance to the semi-finals.
Eala found herself overmatched for much of the contest, struggling to keep up with Gauff’s pace and precision. The loss highlighted the gap between her current level and what’s required to compete regularly at the top tier of the WTA Tour.
Despite the defeat, it has been a positive week for Eala. She picked up valuable ranking points and once again captured attention with her energy and growing fan base.
Gauff had plenty of praise for the 20-year-old Filipina before and after their match. Both players also took to Instagram later on, sharing posts that highlighted their respect for one another.
Alexandra Eala and Coco Gauff exchange messages on social media
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Eala was the first to post, sharing an Instagram story of the two players embracing at the net after the match.
She wrote: “Congrats @cocogauff. Love sharing the court with you, always learn a lot.”
Gauff responded by reposting it, adding a single word: “Star.”
“Three weeks of fighting with love and pride has come to an end here in Dubai. The competition, the atmosphere, the hospitality, and the full-blown support has made these weeks ones I’ll never forget! Thank you,” Eala posted later on her feed.
The 20-year-old is expected to reach a career-high ranking following her performance in Dubai.
Alexandra Eala’s record against top ten opponents
Eala’s track record against top-ten players was a major talking point ahead of her match-up with Gauff.
Even though she did not get the result this time, her overall form against the sport’s best has not taken much of a hit.
Her initial breakthrough came during last year’s Miami Open, where she made an unexpected run to the semi-finals.
During that stretch, she took down Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek before falling just short against Jessica Pegula. That left her with a 2-1 record, but Swiatek evened things up later that year in Madrid.
Back in Dubai, Eala edged ahead again by beating Jasmine Paolini, though Gauff’s win has since brought her record to an even 3-3 against top-ten players.