Alex Eala back on track after defeating Mika Stojsavljevic in Toray Pan Pacific Open

FOREHAND. Tennis player Alex Eala in action for the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games.

PSC-POC Media Pool

After defeating the British teen in straight sets, Eala will face World No. 38 Talia Gibson of Australia in the round-of-16 match

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala defeated Great Britain’s Mika Stojsavljevic, 6-1, 6-2, in a round-of-32 match of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, October 26.

The game marked Eala’s debut in the WTA 500 tournament, and also doubled as the first time the eighth seed and 17-year-old British player went head-to-head with each other.

Stojsavljevic, who entered the Toray Pan Pacific Open as a wild card, stands at 6-foot-1. She towers over the 5-foot-9 Eala — with the latter commending her for her strong serves.

“I think it’s a part of my style,” Eala said about her aggressive plays. “She’s a great server. I definitely think that’s one of the key points from the match today. That’s one of the things that made it a bit more difficult for me, so I’m really happy that I was able to do that.”

World No. 19 Eala’s win against Stojsavljevic comes just after her round-of-16 exit at the Ningbo Open in China on October 22 at the hands of Russian player Diana Shnaider, 5-7, 4-6.

The 21-year-old Filipina tennis ace will play against World No. 38 Talia Gibson of Australia on Wednesday, October 28, in the round of 16. – Rappler.com