Eala, Gauff dominate foes to advance in Italian Open doubles quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines -- The tandem of Alex Eala and Coco Gauff in the Italian Open’s doubles competition continues to click.

The Eala-Gauff pair made quick work of the duo of Tyra Grant and Lisa Pigato, 6-2, 6-3, in the tourney’s round of 16 Tuesday (Manila time) in Rome to punch a ticket to the tournament’s quarterfinals.

They are thus headed to a collision course with the third-seeded Italian pair of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, who defeated Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva and Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

It was a dominant win for the American and Filipino duo, who punched in three aces in the match. They also won 33 service points compared to 25 for Grant and Pigato.

Eala and Gauff also tallied 23 receiving points to their opponents’ 18.

After grabbing the first set in a breezy manner, 6-2, the pair jumped ahead in the second set, 3-1.

But Grant and Pigato strung together two straight games to tie things up, before the victors held their serve to gain the upper hand.

A grueling eighth game went the way of Eala and Gauff, which gave them all the momentum in the arena, 5-3.

The then held their serve in the ninth game to punch a ticket to the quarters after a little over an hour.

But the road will only get tougher for the World No. 456 doubles’ player Eala and World No. 22 Gauff, who will take on Errani and Paolini, both ranked sixth in doubles play.

The schedule for the quarters matchup is still yet to be determined.