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Top-seeded Cori Gauff and Jessica Pegula are off to a strong start to their Qatar Open doubles run as they dismantled their opponents in their opener. On Monday, Gauff and Pegula ousted Tereza Mihalikova and Yifan Xu 6-4 6-0 to progress into the Doha doubles quarterfinal.
Gauff and Pegula didn't really get off to a good start as Mihalikova and Xu earned the first break in the fourth game for an early 3-1 lead. In the seventh game, Mihalikova and Xu had three more break points - which could have given them a double break lead - but they didn't convert as Gauff and Pegula managed to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Mihalikova and Xu paid the price for not realizing their break points in the seventh game as Gauff and Pegula broke back in the eighth game to tie the first set to four games apiece. After serving out the ninth game for a 5-4 lead, Gauff and Pegula broke Mihalikova and Xu again in the 10th game - when the unseeded duo was serving to stay in the first set.
After winning the last four games of the first set, Gauff and Pegula absolutely dominated the second set as they bageled Mihalikova and Xu to complete a straight-set win in impressive style.
Gauff and Pegula impressively recovered
At 4-2 in the first set, Mihalikova and Xu missed out on a great chance to go up by a double break.
After losing that game, Mihalikova and Xu's game collapsed as Gauff and Pegula absolutely dominated the rest of the match. In the Doha quarterfinal, Gauff and Pegula will be taking on Alicja Rosolska and Erin Routliffe. Meanwhile, Gauff and Pegula are playing their second doubles tournament of the season.
At the Australian Open, Gauff and Pegula had a very promising run before it ended with a surprise semifinal defeat. In Doha, Gauff and Pegula are the top-seeded duo and the top favorites to win the title. It remains to be seen if Gauff and Pegula can win their first doubles tournament of the year in Doha.