India, Sept. 6 -- Coco Gauff believes Alex Eala is dealing with a level of pressure that is difficult for her to fully understand. The American, who has established herself as one of the leading players in women's tennis, said Eala's position is different because of what she represents in the Philippines. The 20-year-old Eala has become a trailblazer for Filipino tennis, breaking new ground while carrying the expectations of a country following her progress closely.

Eala has enjoyed a breakthrough year, winning her first WTA Tour title at the Mubadala DC Open and reaching a career-high ranking. She has carried that momentum into the US Open, where she advanced to the third round after beating Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 and Oleksandra Oliynyko...