The new-formed partnership between Alex Eala and Coco Gauff manufactured a sweep win in their first match together at the 2025 Italian Open.
Alex Eala and Coco Gauff’s partnership in women’s doubles was welcomed with a triumphant start, zooming past Alexandra Panova and Fanny Stollar, 6-3, 6-1, in the Round of 32 of the Italian Open in Rome on Saturday (PH time).
Eala and Gauff needed just an hour to drub Panova and Stollar, who are the more experienced duo in terms of doubles play.
But Eala’s tenacity, combined with Gauff’s proven brilliance in doubles, provided enough firepower to bring the Filipino-American duo to the victory in straight sets.
Set 1 saw both pairs go neck-and-neck in the first couple of games as Panova and Stollar held their serve in a love game, 2-2.
But Eala and Gauff held right back before breaking their opponents’ serve in Game 6, swinging momentum on their side. After converting on breakpoint, they then held their serve in the next game to make it a dominating 5-2 lead.
Despite Panova and Stollar pulling one back in the next game, Eala and Gauff saved a break point before converting on the advantage to clinch the set and the 1-0 advantage, 6-3.
Buoyed by their close victory in set 1, Eala and Gauff dominated over their foes as they won six straight games after giving up the opening game of the second set.
Eala and Gauff finished off Panova and Stollar in a flurry with a love game in Game 7 to clinch the victory.
Though Eala was already booted out in singles play, Gauff is continuing to push on to the Round of 32 in singles after beating Victoria Mboko of Canada in the Round of 64, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Round of 16 matches in the women’s doubles tournament are slated to be played on Monday, May 12.