AFTER surviving her opening-round test on Tuesday, Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume has set up a round of 16 clash with Alex Eala in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open.
Sakatsume, ranked No. 140 by the WTA, beat Eala in an Osaka tournament in 2023, 6-0, 6-3, and will be looking to repeat over the Filipina on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
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Much has changed since then.
Eala, now the world's No. 49 ranked player, has shown marked improvement and will look to exact revenge on home soil with her adoring fans cheering her on.
The Filipina enters the match-up brimming with confidence after a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Alina Charaeva on Monday night.
Sakatsume, from her end, booked the rematch by outlasting fellow Japanese Nao Hibino, 6-3, 7-5, on Tuesday night.
The Eala–Sakatsume showdown is slated to be played not before 6 p.m. and will headline Wednesday’s Centre Court action.
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