Tennis star Schuurs gives away the lead and misses the final in Rome

Tennis star Demi Schuurs failed to make it to the doubles final at the prestigious WTA tournament in Rome, despite a large lead. The Russians Veronika Koedermetova and Anastasija Pavlioetsjenkova were 1-6 7-6 (6) 10-7 too strong for Schuurs and her American doubles partner Desirae Krawczyk.

Schuurs (28) and Krawczyk (28), who did make it to the final in Madrid last week, led 6-1 5-2. They left a total of three game points unused; two at 5-2 in the second set and one in the tiebreak of the second set.

Schuurs won the clay tournament in Rome four years ago. She then formed a duo with Australian Ashleigh Barty, who recently ended her career.