Coco Gauff has apologised to her doubles partner at the Italian Open for her standard of play during their matches.
Gauff and Alexandra Eala lost in the quarter-finals to home duo Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, but had won two matches to make it that far.
The American felt that she was to blame for their disappointment, pointing out that Eala saved them from an earlier exit.
“And in our match yesterday, she definitely got MVP for that,” Gauff said. “I was just kind of there. So, I told her sometimes I forget how to play because sometimes it’s been a while. It’s just one of those things.
“You know how they say, you don’t forget how to ride a bike, doubles you definitely forget how to play.
“I told her I’m like a deer on ice at the net, that’s what I feel like. Many times I’ve apologised to her, but she’s quick, she’s fast, so she’s there to cover me.”