Italians repulse Eala, Gauff

Alex Eala and Coco Gauff bow out of the Italian Open women's doubles after suffering a 5-7, 6-3 (7-10) loss against defending champions and home bets Sara Errani and Jasmin Paolini in the quarterfinal at the Grand Stand Arena in Rome early Thursday (Manila time).

Eala and Gauff gave their all but fell to the Italians after one hour and 36 minutes of action.

This means Eala's stint in the Italian Open finally ends as she lost to Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 0-6, 1-6, in the women's singles last week in the Round of 128.

Still, the 19-year-old Rafael Nadal Academy made it far in her first Women's Tennis Association 1000 women's doubles tournament.

Eala will now shift her focus to the French Open on 25 May in Paris as she is set to make her main draw debut.