Who is Himeno Sakatsume? Alex Eala’s second round foe at the Philippine Women’s Open

Alexandra “Alex” Eala will play in the Round of 16 of the Philippine Women’s Open on Wednesday against Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume.

The 24-year-old Sakatsume is currently ranked World No. 140. She advanced to the second round of the tournament after defeating compatriot Nao Hibino, 6–3, 7–5.

Sakatsume is coming off a semifinal appearance at the Canberra International, another WTA 125 event, where she fell to Polina Kudermetov, 5–7, 2–6.

Last year, she captured the WTT W100 title in Takasaki, Japan, and the WTT W50 crown in Canada.

World No. 49 Eala, meanwhile, opened her campaign with a dominant 6–1, 6–2 victory over Alina Charaeva on Monday.

The winner of Wednesday’s match will advance to face either Colombia’s Camila Osorio or Japan’s Mai Hontama.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News