New-look tandem Alex Eala and Coco Gauff hope for another big win in Rome.
Alex Eala and Coco Gauff look to continue their promising partnership as they battle fellow wild card entries Tyra Caterina Grant and Lisa Pigato in the Round of 16 of the Italian Open women’s doubles on Monday, 7 p.m. (Manila time).
Coming off a composed opening win in their debut outing as a tandem, Eala and Gauff now find themselves within striking distance of a quarterfinal spot in the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome.
While the Filipino-American pair is still new, the pedigree is unmistakable.
[READ:
How Alex Eala ended up with Coco Gauff as her doubles partner at Italian Open]
Gauff is currently ranked No. 22 in doubles and No. 3 in singles, and she enters this matchup riding high after a 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Emma Raducanu that pushed her into the singles quarterfinals.
Eala, ranked No. 456 in doubles, continues to make her presence felt on the world stage and is thriving alongside Gauff’s experience and aggressive court command.
Their opponents, Italy’s Pigato and Grant, are ranked No. 854 and No. 526 in doubles, respectively, and are also playing on a wild card entry.
With momentum, crowd interest, and talent on their side, Eala and Gauff are in strong position to advance—just one win away from making waves in the doubles draw of one of clay season’s most prestigious stops.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]