Coco Gauff employed a classic strategy to deal with an enthusiastic crowd at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday, most of whom there to support Gauff’s opponent Alexandra Eala.

“I had a similar match at French Open last year so I brought that mindset today,” Gauff explained on court 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 exploding fanbase as “great for tennis” ahead of their Dubai quarterfinal. “I’ve played this tournament for many years and to see the stadium full means a lot.”

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