America’s Coco Gauff has asked the fans to stop using the nickname for her team with Philippines youngster Alexandra Eala. The two are participating in the ongoing WTA 1000 event in the Italian capital, which is now moving toward the business end.
They cemented their spot in the quarterfinal after beating the pair of Tyra Caterina Grant and Lisa Pigato in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Before their much-awaited quarterfinal, the one-time Grand Slam winner in the singles category had to come on social media and make a special request to her partner, Eala.
Both are now renowned as “Team Coachella.” Gauff ended up asking the fans not to use that nickname.
“Hi everybody, it’s Alex and Coco here. Thank you so much for all the support that you’ve been giving us this week, and hopefully in our next match, a lot of you will come out and watch. Thank you guys for all the support. Super happy to be playing with Alex and hope you guys keep supporting us. And we don’t like Team Coachella, so pick a new name. Okay, so another name. Maybe another name. Okay, bye.”
The two are set to face the pair of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini. The two managed to cement their spot in the last eight after beating the pair of Yulia Putintseva and Leylah Fernandez with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 10-7.
Interestingly, Gauff is also taking part in the singles category, where she booked her spot in the semifinal of the event after beating Russia’s young tennis sensation, Mirra Andreeva, in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-6.
It was the fourth consecutive occasion where the reigning world No. 2 has got the better of the 18-year-old in professional tennis. Gauff will now face the winner of the match between Paolini and America’s Peyton Stearns.
