Sakura Hosogi of Japan dominated Stefi Marithe Aludo, securing her place in the main draw of the Philippine Women’s Open with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Hosogi, a seasoned player with seven ITF singles titles, proved relentless despite a 30-minute rain delay, completing the match in just over an hour.
Hosogi became the first qualifier to earn a coveted spot in the WTA 125 competition, marking a significant achievement in her career.
“I was nervous, but happy to reach the main draw in my first WTA tournament,” Hosogi shared, her words carefully chosen after the quick win on center court.
Aludo, a promising 17-year-old, acknowledged her opponent’s skill, stating, “She is better, but I learned a lot from her.”
The young Filipina recognized the need for greater focus and composure in future matches, lessons gleaned from a challenging encounter.
Hosogi wasn’t alone in advancing through the qualifiers; compatriot Miho Kuramochi also secured a main draw berth with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 win over American Mia Horvit.
Russian Viktoria Morvayova joined them, defeating Argentina’s Nicole Fossa Huergo in a 7-5, 6-3 match.
All eyes now turn to Monday’s opening round, where Filipino star Alexandra Eala will make her highly anticipated debut on home soil.
Eala will face a tough challenge in Russian Alina Charaeva, ranked No. 169 globally, in front of an expected capacity crowd.
Seeded No. 2 and with a career-high ranking of No. 49, Eala aims to deliver a performance that will resonate with the enthusiastic Filipino fans.
Joining Eala in representing the Philippines will be Kaye Ann Emana, Tennielle Madis, and Elizabeth Abarquez, each eager to make their mark in the tournament.
Emana will compete against Tatiana Prozorova of Russia, Madis will face Thai player Mananchaya Sawangkaew, and Abarquez will challenge Japanese Mai Hontama.
The tournament represents a landmark event, the first major project of the National Sports Tourism-InterAgency Committee, signaling a new era for tennis in the Philippines.
