Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala faces Japan's Himeno Sakatsume in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open Round of 16 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila on January 28, 2026. Eala booked a spot in the quarterfinals after beating Sakatsume 6-4, 6-0. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- Staying cool, calm, and collected was the key to victory for Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala in her round-of-16 match against Japan's Himeno Sakatsume, Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
With a berth in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Women's Open on the line, Eala had to weather the storm in the first set, as her Japanese foe started off strong, eyeing a repeat of their 2023 encounter.
Sakatsume came away with a 6-3, 6-0 win when she and Eala played in the opening round of WTA 250 Kinoshita Group Japan Open in 2023.
The Filipina made sure there would not be a similar result on her home soil.
READ: Alex Eala takes down Japan's Sakatsume, advances to PWO q'finals
After Eala saved four break points and took the opening set, she flipped the switch in the second set, denying Sakatsume a chance to take a game.
"I think just staying calm was a big part of it. Not panicking. I think just taking it point by point was a big key to pulling through that game. I think that was a very crucial point of the match. I think just staying calm and staying focused was what I did," she said.
As Eala continues to up her game, she remains a student of the game, especially in staying consistent.
"I think consistency is something difficult when you're on tour and you're facing so many of these players. I think you definitely have moments where you're playing better. I think that's what makes the greats so great. They're able to show up time and time again," she said on Wednesday.
"I'm learning how to do that. I'm doing my best to maneuver every situation. Because every day you wake up and there's something different. Like I said, that's what makes the greats great. And I'm trying to figure out how to achieve that also," Eala added.
Being at home and competing in front of the home crowd, Eala said she's "in a good space."
The 20-year-old said she's learned to tune out the noise, choosing to focus on constructive criticism.
"I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, definitely. And being a public figure, my results are out there, my games are out there. It's inevitable that people will have comments, whether it's positive or negative. And I really appreciate the support, the positivity, and you're entitled to your own opinion, even if it's negative about me," she said.
"My approach to it is that I have my team, and they will definitely tell me if there's criticism, or they will definitely provide me with constructive criticism. They work in my best interest. They also give me positive feedback. So that's the, of course, along with my own opinion, and the opinion of my team, is what I prioritize," Eala said.
The Filipina will go up against Camila Osorio of Colombia in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Women's Open on Thursday.