Pan Pacific Open 2026: Eala breezes past world number 411 Stojsavljevic in Tokyo opener

File photo: Eala breezed into a 5-0 lead in the first set and closed it out despite Stojsavljevic pulling a game back. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines said “the ball doesn’t know what rank you are” after her straightforward win over world number 411 Mika Stojsavljevic, 6-1, 6-2, in her first match at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Monday.

The 19th-ranked Eala came into the event after a rough stretch in which she managed only one victory across her previous three tournaments. One of those setbacks was an unexpected first-round loss to Chinese qualifier Shi Han, ranked 217th, at the Wuhan Open earlier this month.

This time, she avoided another upset against the 17-year-old British, finishing the match in 75 minutes.

“I try to look at the player separate from the ranking,” Eala said.

“The ball doesn’t know what rank you are.

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“It’s just being ready and trying to keep that intensity all the time.”

The 21-year-old, who became the first Filipino player to win a WTA Tour title in August, draws devoted followers wherever she plays, and a small but enthusiastic group cheered her on at centre court in Tokyo.

Eala raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set and held on to win it, even though Stojsavljevic took one game back.

The British put up more resistance in the second set, but Eala was never under real pressure and did not lose her serve at any point.

“It’s a little faster than the court I played on last week.” Eala commented.

“It’s indoor, comfortable weather, not very hot. I think I’m finding my groove.”

Elsewhere, fifth seed Elise Mertens of Belgium advanced by beating Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-4, 6-2.

However, second seed Maja Chwalinska and defending champion Belinda Bencic, seeded fourth, both pulled out through injury before playing a match.

Bencic announced that her season is over after several ligament tears were found in her right foot.

“I am still completely unsure when and how this occurred, but it is sadly preventing me from competing here in Tokyo this week and in Hong Kong next week,” the Swiss player said.