Used to playing on the same side of the net in doubles, Jessica Pegula will face Coco Gauff in singles at the Eastbourne International after both winning their Last 16 ties on Wednesday.
Pegula and Gauff are set for a quarter-final clash tomorrow and they will also play together in doubles on Wednesday evening.
Gauff was first through seeing off British home hope Jodie Burrage with utter ease and also breaking a poor run of second round exits as of late.
The No.5 seed sealed a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over the lucky loser needing just 59 minutes and racking up nearly 60% of points returning serve won. It is a first grass court Quarter-Final of the season for Gauff.
She gained advantage at 3-1 in the opening set with a break and swept to the one set lead from there. It was even more comprehensive in the second.
She went 5-0 up and despite Burrage sweeping her serve to love, it was a mere blip as she immediately broke back to force the win. As was her dominance that she hit 18 winners to just eight unforced errors.
While in a display that sometimes sums up Pegula, it was a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 win for the World No.4.
She sat at 2/11 on break points as Osorio forced a final set after Pegula had swept the first 6-2. But despite the second going 6-1 to the Colombian, it was a pivotal break to love at 5-3 which dictated the match as Pegula consolidated from there to move through.
It is only the second time the American duo will face off. Friends and doubles partners but it is time for them to be enemies on the singles court tomorrow.
Daria Kasatkina earlier today survived a tough test against Karolina Pliskova in other Eastbourne results. She came from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in just over two hours.
Beatriz Haddad Maia was forced to retire as her injury woes continue against Petra Martic, while Madison Keys joined the American contingent sweeping past Xiyu Wang.
Jelena Ostapenko, Ons Jabeur and Caroline Garcia concluded the day on the South Coast.
Gauff d. Jodie Burrage 6-1 6-1 in Eastbourne Grass season must bring back so many beautiful memories for Coco. It’s been almost 4 years since she beat Venus Williams as a 15 year old & reached Wimbledon Round 4. Still only 19 years old. Still poised beyond belief.
