MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala got back at Himeno Sakutsume, 6-4, 6-0, in the round of 16 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center Wednesday evening to enter the Philippine Women's Open quarterfinals.
Eala recovered from a 3-4 game deficit in the first set and overpowered Sakutsume in the second frame to avenge her opening round loss to the Japanese at the 2023 WTA 250 Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.
Eala vies for a semifinals berth as she faces Colombian Camila Osorio in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Earlier, two Filipino pairs bowed out in the doubles competition.
Stefi Aludo and Tennielle Madis yielded to the Japanese duo of Kanako Morisaki and Mana Ayukawa, 2-6, 2-6.
Rovie Baulete and Elizabeth Abarquez then fell to the Japanese-Chinese pair of Hiroko Kuwata and Ye Qiuyu, 0-6, 2-6.