Errani and Paolini struggle but not enough, Gauff-Siniakova triumph

After almost two hours of play and a great fight, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini lost to the American Coco Gauff and the Czech Caterina Siniakova (fifth seed) in two sets, 7-6, 6-3. The winners, doubles specialists (Siniakova had already won seven Slams, two of them in Paris), played the decisive points better, starting with those in the tiebreak during a very balanced first set. The second set had started badly for the Italians, down 1-4, 0-30, but the comeback up to 4-3 was then stopped. However, Errani and Paolini confirmed their growing harmony and the constant growth in their game, which rests on the strengths of each: Jasmine's solidity and precision from the back, Sara's reactivity and effectiveness at the net. For much of the match, the Italians countered Gauff's heavy strokes and the Czech's volleying ability, but it was not enough: the opponents, at their first tournament together, gradually grew in the match, finding harmony and concreteness.

For Jasmine, with two finals in singles and doubles, it is still an unforgettable Roland Garros. For Sara, who has already won the doubles in Paris in 2012 and was also a finalist in 2013 and 2014 (again paired with Roberta Vinci), it is a return to great results. On the red clay of Roland Garros, the two Italians (who triumphed at the Internazionali di Roma) will return to play the Olympics.