Channeling pro-Alexandra Eala crowd, Coco Gauff storms into Dubai semi-finals

Coco Gauff employed a basic technique to cope with an enthusiastic crowd on the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday, most of whom there to assist Gauff’s opponent Alexandra Eala.

“I had a similar match at French Open last year so I brought that mindset today,” Gauff defined on courtroom after defeating Eala, 6-0, 6-2. “Whenever you guys were cheering for Alex, I was pretending it was my name. I think that it helped me a lot!

“If you can’t beat ’em, you’ve got to join them,” the American added with a laugh.

This bit of reverse psychology has become popular for taking on tough crowds over the years, most notably from 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who often found himself up against fan favorites like Roger Federer.

“I have to say, it’s great to be on a crowded court,” said Gauff, who hailed Eala’s exploiting fanbase as “great for tennis” forward of their Dubai quarterfinal. “I’ve played this tournament for many years and to see the stadium full means a lot.”