The partnership of Alex Eala and Coco Gauff faces its biggest challenge yet in the form of reigning champions Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, with an Italian Open semifinal spot at stake.
Alex Eala’s partnership with Coco Gauff will face its toughest challenge yet as the duo collides with defending champions Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani for a spot at the 2025 Italian Open semifinal round.
The first serve is set for 9:10 p.m. (PH time) on Wednesday, March 14.
This quarterfinal match-up is expected to take place just moments after Gauff's match against world No. 7 Mirra Andreeva in her own singles campaign scheduled at 7:00 p.m.
The Eala-Gauff partnership, still in its early stages, impressed in the last outing with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win over hometown favorites Lisa Pigato and Tyra Caterina Grant.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala, Coco Gauff advance to Italian Open quarterfinals]
But the duo now stands in the way of the seasoned Italian tandem Paolini and Errani, who are the current world no. 8 in the WTA rankings and the reigning Olympic gold medalists.
The Paolini-Errani tandem edged past Yulia Putintseva and Leylah Fernandez in a tight 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 battle to book their spot in the final eight.
Errani boasts five Grand Slam doubles titles. Paolini, currently ranked no. 5 in women’s singles rankings, owned seven doubles crowns. Their partnership embarked on a couple of deep runs at both the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024.
But the Filipino-American duo will look to blend youth, power, and momentum against the tournament’s heavy favorites.
For Eala and Gauff, the semifinals are just one match away — but it’ll take something special to get past the reigning queens of Rome.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
—
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]