FIRST-time duo Alex Eala and Coco Gauff wasted no time making their presence felt, dominating the court with a big win in their 2025 Italian Open Women’s Doubles round of 32 opener on Saturday.
The Filipino-American pair crushed Alexandra Panova of Russia and Fanny Stollar of Hungary, 6-3, 6-1, to move to the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 in Rome, Italy.
The match served as a revenge game for Eala, who was coming off a tough loss to Marta Kostyuk in the women’s singles first round earlier this week.
Eala, currently ranked 70, and the world no. 3 started the match strong, establishing a 2-0 lead before their foes responded by winning the next two games to even out at 2-2.
Showing resilience and more aggressiveness, Eala and Gauff regained control to clinch three consecutive games and take a 5-2 lead, before Panova and Stollar managed to hold serve in the nexts game.
Eala and Gauff, though, served out the set in the next game to close the first set at 6-3.
After dropping the first game in the following set, Eala and Gauff asserted dominance to win six straight games to take a commanding 6-1 lead with their chemistry showing, this left Panova and Stollar struggling to break through their strong returns.
Eala and Gauff now move to the next round awaiting their next opponent.
