Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala enters the 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan, facing 17-year-old British wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic in the opening round on Monday, October 26, as she seeks to rebound from a turbulent Asian swing.
Eala Enters Match as Favorite over Stojsavljevic
- Betting Market: Eighth-seeded World No. 20 Eala enters the matchup as the favorite against World No. 308 Stojsavljevic.
- Tournament Trajectory: Advancing past the round of 32 puts Eala on a projected collision course with Australia’s Talia Gibson in the second round.
- Rankings Movement: Eala is expected to climb to World No. 19 in live rankings, while Stojsavljevic faces a dip to No. 411 following a quiet stretch on tour.
Eala Debuts in Tokyo After Mixed Asian Swing
Eala arrives in Tokyo for her debut at the WTA 500 event following a demanding stretch through Singapore, Wuhan, and Ningbo. The 21-year-old left-hander posted a 1-3 record across the early legs of the Asian swing, absorbing early exits against Tatiana Prozorova at the Singapore Open and Shi Han at the Wuhan Open. While she steadied her footing by defeating Diane Parry in straight sets at the Ningbo Open, a defeat to Diana Shnaider halted her progress in the round of 16.
Reflecting on her recent form during a press conference reported by Tennishead, Eala noted, “I’m happy with how I played last week at Ningbo; the outcome was good, even though I lost. I was pleased with my footwork during the match. And, of course, I’m super excited to be back in Japan—it’s my first time playing here in Tokyo!”
Historical Precedent Against British Opposition
Monday’s encounter marks the first meeting between Eala and Stojsavljevic, a former US Open girls’ singles champion who claimed the junior title in 2024—two years after Eala accomplished the same feat in New York. Eala’s historical record against British players features a 1-0 mark against Katie Boulter, a 1-0 record against Francesca Jones, a 0-1 record against Sonay Kartal, and a 2-0 record against Katy Dunne.
| Opponent | Record | Notable Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Katie Boulter | 1-0 | 2025 Hong Kong Open (Retirement) |
| Sonay Kartal | 0-1 | 2023 Empire Women’s Indoor 2 |
| Francesca Jones | 1-0 | W25 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
| Katy Dunne | 2-0 | W25 Yecla and Aldershot (2023) |
Speaking about her upcoming opponent, Eala acknowledged the teenager’s threat, telling Tennishead, “I don’t know her very well yet. I’ve only seen her a couple of times on tour, but she seems like a really nice person. Big hitter, great junior career, so of course very excited.”
Doubles Campaign Alongside Grand Slam Champion
Beyond her singles campaign, Eala is doubling up in Tokyo alongside American veteran Desirae Krawczyk. The 32-year-old Krawczyk, a four-time Grand Slam winner in mixed doubles and former World No. 7 in doubles, teams up with Eala as the pair prepares to face Japan’s Miyu Kato and Chinese Taipei’s Chan Hao-ching in the round of 16. Both players share a left-handed playing style, adding a distinct tactical dynamic to their partnership on the court.
The winner of the opening singles match between Eala and Stojsavljevic will advance to face either Daria Kasatkina or Talia Gibson in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open.
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