Although Coco Gauff is a more accomplished player in the singles, her doubles journey has been nothing short of electric, especially alongside Jessica Pegula, with whom she reached the 2022 French Open final, before finally winning the Roland Garros title in 2024 alongside Katerina Siniakova. Now, as the European clay season heats up, Gauff seems to be rekindling her doubles spark once again. She reunited with friend Robin Montgomery in Madrid, and now, in a surprise twist at the Italian Open, she’s pairing with none other than Miami Open sensation Alex Eala. The move has raised eyebrows, but Coco has an intriguing backstory for this unexpected partnership.
In their opening match at the Madrid Open doubles, Coco Gauff and Alex Eala looked unstoppable, dismantling the duo of Alexandra Panova and Fanny Stollar with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory in just 1 hour. Brimming with confidence and synergy, the duo showcased their dominance on the court.
This triumph was another step forward for Gauff toward capturing a long-awaited Italian Open doubles title, after near-misses in both 2023 and 2024. For Eala, it marked a career milestone, her first-ever win in the Italian Open doubles event.
As the duo advanced to the R16, Coco shared the backstory behind their unexpected collaboration, adding a personal twist to what’s quickly becoming one of the tour’s most exciting partnerships.
“She DM’d me on Instagram. She slid in my DMs and asked me to play,” Coco revealed with a smile. “I was like, ‘Sure, why not?’ We really didn’t know each other, honestly, before Madrid. I said hi to her for the first time in Madrid or maybe Miami, we may have briefly said hello. I figured she would be nice so I was just hoping she would be, you know?”
Coco Gauff on her doubles partnership with Alex Eala:
“She slid in my DMs and asked me to play. And I was like, Sure. Why not?
“We really didn’t know each other, honestly, before in Madrid, I said hi to her for the first time (smiling).” pic.twitter.com/pTUFUngLUw
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) May 11, 2025
The 2023 US Open champion then went on to speak highly of Eala’s personality and their natural connection as young players on tour. “Obviously, she’s such a nice person. When there’s people finally my age on tour, I’m glad to interact. For me, it was a good opportunity to play doubles but also have a relaxed vibe with another player. I’m super happy to play with her, and obviously she’s a killer in doubles: two junior Slams and probably some future ones too,” Coco added.
Coco’s road to doubles glory in Italy isn’t easy, though! There are some impressive young players in contention in the doubles. One of those is the 17-year-old Tyra Grant, a standout in doubles. Grant has already claimed junior GS titles at the French Open in 2023 and both the AO and Wimbledon in 2024.
Her partner, 21-year-old Lisa Pigato, brings quality and pedigree to the table as well, having won the junior doubles title at the 2020 French Open alongside Eleonora Alvisi. The Italian pair advanced with a gritty 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 win. They will next face Gauff and Eala.
Gauff and Eala, if they cross this hurdle and reach the QF, might be up against Errani/Paolini or Putintseva/Fernandez next.
As the doubles draw builds excitement, fans are also eager to see how Coco’s singles journey unfolds in Rome after the Madrid disappointment.
Coco Gauff shares her opinion after beating Magda Linette
Last time Coco Gauff faced Magda Linette in Miami, the World No. 4 suffered her first loss against her in three meetings. But she flipped the script in Rome, scoring a hard-earned 7-5, 6-3 victory in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
The opening set was tightly contested, with both players struggling to find rhythm. Gauff tallied 24 unforced errors to just 9 winners. Despite breaking for a 3-1 lead, she quickly gave the advantage back, and the set remained on serve until Gauff’s grit pulled her through. She surged ahead by winning eight of the last nine points from 5-5, closing the set in 51 minutes.
The former US winner credited her improved focus and tactical adjustments for sealing the win. Speaking post-match, she said, “I don’t know, I would say probably like a B, maybe I think, yeah, I think I, you know, I was playing the right way the whole match. I think I could have gotten a little bit more defensive in the first set, which I ended up doing in the second, but yeah, I think maybe even an A, honestly, because I lost her in Miami. So it was good to get some revenge.”
Rome has historically been a stronghold for Coco, with 14 main-draw wins, her fourth-best total on tour. She’s made two SFs here in 2021 and 2024, despite early exits in 2022 and 2023!
Next up, she takes on British star Emma Raducanu, whom she previously defeated in the 2023 Australian Open. Are you backing Coco for a title winning run in Rome?
The post ‘She Slid in My DMs’- Coco Gauff Reveals the Real Reason Behind Partnering With Miami Open Sensation in Rome appeared first on EssentiallySports.