The Filipino-American tandem of Alex Eala and Coco Gauff move forward in women’s doubles at the Italian Open.
Make that two-for-two for Alex Eala and Coco Gauff at the 2025 Italian Open.
The unlikely women’s doubles tandem continued to prove their partnership effective, moving past home bets Tyra Caterina Grant and Lisa Pigato in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, in the Round of 16 on Tuesday evening, Manila time.
Eala and Gauff needed an hour and seven minutes to complete their conquest of the Italian duo, where the compatriots hardly threatened against the two rising WTA stars.
Eala and Gauff had an optimistic start, opening with a 3-0 lead in set 1.
While Grant and Pigato tried to get within striking distance when they held their serve and saved three break points, 2-4, Eala and Gauff were quick to recover with back-to-back games to seize the initial set, 6-2.
In set 2, things were a bit more tight as Grant and Pigato won back-to-back games to force a 3-all tie.
But a crucial break on the Italians’ serve in Game 8 gave Eala and Gauff the 5-3 lead and enough momentum to close out in the next game.
Eala and Gauff thus set themselves up for a clash against 3-seed pair Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani in the quarterfinals.
This will be arguably Eala and Gauff’s biggest test so far as a doubles pair after going through un-seeded tandems in their first two matches.
While Eala has long been booted out in singles in Rome, Gauff remains on double duty as she also qualified to the quarterfinal in singles. She goes up against Mirra Andreeva next.