A DM that sparked a doubles partnership: Coco Gauff reveals how she teamed up with Alexandra Eala at the Italian Open

Looking for a way to team up with USA's tennis ace Coco Gauff? Try sending her a direct message on Instagram.

That is what the Philippines' rising star Alexandra Eala did to pin Gauff as her doubles partner at the Italian Open in Rome.

“She slid in my DMs and asked me to play. And I was like, 'Sure. Why not?'” Gauff said while speaking to the media in the mixed zone.

Gauff had not met Eala before teaming up with the 19-year-old in the Italian capital. The two previously only exchanged a passing greeting at the Madrid Open in late April. World No. 3 Gauff advanced to the final of that tournament while Eala fell to Poland's Iga Swiatek in the Round of 64.

"We did not know each other at all, really," Gauff said. "Before in Madrid, I said ‘Hi’ to her for the first time."

While Gauff did not know Eala well, the Filipina player's impressive junior record in doubles spoke for itself and the USA star was eager to team up with her.

“She’s a killer in doubles — two junior slams, and probably future ones too,” Gauff said. “I’m super happy to play with her.”

The duo secured a two-set victory over Alexandra Panova and Fanny Stollar in the Round of 32 (6-3, 6-1) at the Italian Open and will next face a home pair, Tyra Grant and Lisa Pigato on Tuesday (13 May).

Gauff advanced to the women's singles quarter-final after beating Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu on Monday, while Eala exited the singles tournament in the first round following a defeat to Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.

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