Alex Eala, Coco Gauff fall short of Italian Open doubles semis

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Alex Eala and Coco Gauff bow to defending champions Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani of Italy as their doubles partnership in the Italian Open comes to an end

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala and Coco Gauff faced their first acid test as a tandem — one fraught with difficulties that the duo unfortunately failed to overcome. 

The unseeded Filipina and American partners fell short by the slimmest of margins against thirds seeds and defending champions Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, 7-5, 3-6, 10-7, on Wednesday, May 14, in the women’s doubles quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 Italian Open.

Eala and Gauff were coming off a pair of straight-set wins in the first two rounds, but the two realized quickly the gulf in level of play between their previous opponents and home bets Paolini and Errani.

Currently tied at No. 6 in the doubles world rankings, the Italians came with stellar credentials forged by a string of impressive accomplishments in 2024.

Paolini and Errani won the Italian Open last year, defeating Gauff and Erin Routliffe in the final, then went on to deliver Italy the women’s doubles gold in the Paris Olympics. They also emerged champions of the WTA 500 Linz Open in Austria and the WTA 1000 China Open.

Up 5-3 in the opening set, the 19-year-old Eala and 21-year-old Gauff had a golden opportunity to surge ahead when they grabbed a 40-0 lead in the ninth game on the American’s serve.

But the Italian veterans maintained their composure and patiently fought their way back as they broke Gauff to stay alive then won the next three games to pocket the first set.

Eala and Gauff showed their spirits were not dampened by their first-set loss, bouncing back by dominating the second set and ending it in just 40 minutes, setting the stage for a thrilling ending in the super tiebreak. 

But Paolini, 29, and Errani, 38, displayed poise gained from experience, seizing control of the third set by jumping to a 3-1 advantage.

Although Eala and Gauff managed to draw even at 4-4, they never got to taste the lead as Paolini and Errani immediately regained the upper hand and led the rest of the way, effectively ending the tight match in 1 hour and 39 minutes. 

It was a bittersweet result for Gauff, who fell short of advancing to another semifinals after winning her singles quarterfinal match against rising teen star Mirra Andreeva of Russia earlier.

Eala’s campaign in Rome finally came to a conclusion as she plots her next move prior to the French Open, which will begin on May 25.

She might join either of two events scheduled next week: the WTA 500 Internationaux de Strasbourg in France and the WTA 250 Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Morocco. – Rappler.com