Alex Eala is chasing more than just a quarterfinal spot in the Philippine Women’s Open — she’s out for redemption against old foe Himeno Sakatsume in their Round of 16 duel.
Alex Eala is gunning for two birds with one stone.
The Filipina ace goes for both redemption and a quarterfinal berth in the Philippine Women’s Open, taking on familiar foe Himeno Sakatsume of Japan in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, January 28 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Match time is set for around 6:00 p.m., with the contest also streaming live on the Pilipinas Live app.
Eala is coming off commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alina Charaeva in her tournament debut and now returns to action against Sakatsume.
[RELATED: Alex Eala drubs Alina Charaeva for blazing start to Philippine Women’s Open]
The Japanese, for her part, dispatched compatriot Nao Hibino, 6-3, 7-5 despite a rain-delayed second day of play.
[RELATED: Himeno Sakatsume sets up clash against Alex Eala in Philippine Women’s Open]
Beyond a spot in the quarterfinals, Eala is also seeking payback against the 24-year-old Sakatsume, who dealt her a 6-0, 6-3 loss at the WTA 250 Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in 2023.
With the crowd on her side, Eala is focused on returning the favor and davance to the next round of the Manila joust.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]