Tennis: Eala powers past British wildcard, advances to round 2 in Tokyo

MANILA (UPDATE) — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala marched to the second round of the 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open on Monday after a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 victory over Great Britain’s Mika Stojsavljevic at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo.

Eala, who is seeded 8th in the tournament, put together an impressive performance against the British wildcard, dropping just three games and completing the win in an hour and 15 minutes. 

Matched up against the 17-year-old Stojsavljevic, Eala set the tone immediately, breaking the world world No. 308 on her way to winning the first five games.

Stojsavljevic finally got on board in the sixth game, unleashing a superb forehand winner to complete a comfortable hold. But Eala took care of business on her serve, taking the opening set in rapid fashion.

The Filipina broke Stojsavljevic to start the second set, and then came through with a clutch hold in the second game to take a pivotal 2-0 lead. Eala’s grit was in full display as she saved three break points and battled through three deuces, before forcing back-to-back errors from Stojsavljevic to preserve her lead.

They exchanged holds in the next three games, with Eala maintaining a 4-2 advantage.

But Eala went up a double-break after Stojsavljevic stumbled in the seventh game. Eala ripped a stunning forehand winner for deuce, before consecutive errors by the British teenager put the Filipina on the brink of victory.

Eala went on to seal the deal on her serve.

“She’s a great server,” the Filipina said of her young opponent. “That’s one of the things that made it a bit more difficult for me. I’m really happy that I was able to [be aggressive].”

Eala will next play Australia’s Talia Gibson, the world No. 38 who swept Daria Kasatkina in their own first-round affair.

Meanwhile, Eala will no longer play in the doubles after her partner, American Desirae Krawczyk, withdrew due to a back issue.