World no. 140 Himeno Sakatsume will be the Round of 16 matchup for Alex Eala in the Philippine Women’s Open.
Himeno Sakatsume sealed a clash with hometown favorite Alex Eala at the historic Philippine Women’s Open after beating compatriot Nao Hibino, 6-3, 7-5, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Tuesday.
Sakatsume zoomed to a fast start in the opening set, taking three games before Hibino got on the board.
The world no 140. Sakatsume then held her last two service games to clinch the first set.
In Set 2, Sakatsume broke Hibino’s serve in a lengthy opening game to set the tone early, 1-0.
But Hibino wasn't one to go down without a fight, later winning three straight games to tie the set at 5-all. However, a crucial break by Sakatsume in an extended game brought her to the brink of victory, 6-5.
In taking a tough first-round win, Sakatsume will next face Eala on Wednesday’s Round of 16. Their showdown is slated to begin in the evening session at Center Court.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.