COMING from a splendid performance in the tournament opener, Filipina tennis phenom Alex Eala will look to book her ticket to the WTA Philippine Women’s Open Quarterfinals as she takes on the Japanese netter Himeno Sakatsume in the Round of 16 on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
The second-seeded Eala will also have her at redemption against Sakatsume, who defeated her in their first outing, 6-0, 6-3, back in 2023 in Osaka, Japan.
Determined to prove her place in the competition against the massive home crowd, the 24-year-old Sakatsune stressed that she lives for these kinds of moments.
“I’m super excited to play Alex. She was maybe 200 that time. She really improved her rankings and play,’’ she said.
“Before we played in my hometown. Now, we play here. Yesterday I watched her game, and the crowd was so incredible. I’m looking forward to playing in front of that crowd.”
Currently ranked World No. 140, Sakatsume routed her fellow compatriot Nao Hibino in a tight 6-3, 7-5 contest in the Round of 32, Tuesday night, to arrange a date with Eala.
Sakatsume staved off a comeback by compatriot Nao Hibino to win, 6-3, 7-5, Tuesday night and arrange a date with Eala.
On the other side of the court, Eala will try to replicate her astounding start to the maiden WTA 125 event at home, despite a minor hamstring injury that can be traced back to her opening match against Alina Charaeva of Russia.
The 20-year-old Quezon City pride just needed one hour and 13 minutes to dismantle the Russian foe in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 at the jampacked Center Court late Sunday, but it came with a price as she battled through cramps early in the frame, forcing her to take a medical timeout.
Eala went back to the game sporting a bandage on her left thigh and sealed the opening night win, capturing the next six games to the delight of the thousands of Filipino fans in attendance.
Despite playing in less than a hundred percent, Eala made sure that she would do her very best to once again banner the country’s flag in the tournament. “I will try my best. I hope to enjoy our match. I think pain is definitely part of an athlete’s lifestyle. We have to find ways to best manage that and not let it affect us mentally,” she uttered.
The winner of this rematch will advance to the Philippine Women’s Open quarterfinals, in which they will face the winner of the other bracket’s matchup composed of fifth-seeded Camila Osorio of Colombia and Mai Hontama of Japan, who swept Filipina Elizabeth Abarquez in the second qualifying round.