Coco Gauff, the American tennis sensation, has revealed the surprising way her doubles partnership with rising Filipina star Alexandra Eala came to be: a direct message on Instagram. This unexpected alliance has generated buzz at the Italian Open, showcasing the power of social media in forging connections and creating opportunities in the world of professional tennis.
The DM that Started it All
Gauff explained that Eala initiated the partnership by sending her a DM on Instagram, asking if she would be interested in playing doubles together. Gauff, who was without a regular doubles partner after Jessica Pegula took a break, was open to the idea. “She slid in my DMs and asked me to play. And I was like, ‘Sure. Why not?'” Gauff told reporters.
Despite their age difference—Gauff is 21 and Eala is 19—the two had only briefly met before, exchanging a quick greeting at the Madrid Open. Gauff admitted, “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”.
A Partnership Built on Potential
Despite their limited acquaintance, Gauff was impressed by Eala’s junior doubles record. “She’s a killer in doubles — two junior Slams, and probably future ones too,” Gauff said, referring to Eala’s victories at the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open junior doubles events. This, combined with Eala’s initiative, convinced Gauff to give the partnership a shot.
Gauff also expressed her excitement about having someone closer to her age on tour to interact with. “When there’s people finally my age on tour, I’m glad to interact,” she said. She saw the partnership as a good opportunity to play doubles in a relaxed environment with another player.
A Winning Start in Rome
The Gauff-Eala duo made a strong debut at the Italian Open, winning their first-round match against Alexandra Panova and Fanny Stollar in straight sets. They are now vying for a quarterfinal spot against Italian wild card entries Tyra Caterina Grant and Lisa Pigato.
Gauff is also enjoying success in the singles draw, reaching the quarterfinals after defeating Emma Raducanu. Eala, however, lost in the first round of the singles tournament. The doubles partnership offers Eala a chance to learn from a top-tier player like Gauff and gain valuable experience on the WTA tour.
What the Future Holds
The Gauff-Eala partnership is an intriguing development in the world of tennis. Whether it becomes a long-term collaboration remains to be seen, but it highlights the evolving dynamics of player connections and the opportunities that social media can create. For now, both players are focused on making the most of their time together in Rome and potentially making a deep run in the doubles tournament.
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