Italian Open: Hunter-Mertens won first doubles title

Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens won their first doubles title at the Italian Open on Saturday, defeating top seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-4.

Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens, both ranked fourth, won the women’s doubles title at the Italian Open. Top-seeded players Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were defeated in the finals of the women’s doubles at the Italian Open.

Elise Mertens, a Belgian tennis player, won her 17th career doubles title, and Storm Hunter, an Australian tennis player, won her sixth doubles title.

During the tournament, the Australian-Belgian duo won only one set, defeating Flipkens/Rosolska, Rosatello/Moratelli, Danilina/Babos, Bouzkova/Mattek-Sands, and the No.1 Americans.

The doubles final was scheduled to follow the singles final on Campo Central, but due to persistent rain, it was moved to Court Pietrangeli. Hunter and Mertens struck first, breaking on a crucial point to take a 2-1 lead. The top seeds reclaimed the break to tie the set at 4-4.

Mertens won the set by holding serve in a tense 30-all game, while Hunter won it with an overhead winner.

After the match, Elise Mertens said, “I think in the first set we were a little bit more dominant, the ones who were crossing, putting first serves in. “I think that made the difference, we held serve” as quoted by WTA.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were in their third WTA 1000 final in a row. They also won their second championship at the Miami Open. When Mertens and Storm Hunter lost focus, the top-seeded players took advantage, breaking Hunter for a 3-1 lead before Pegula consolidated to 4-1.