Alexandra Eala Dominates Mika Stojsavljevic in Tokyo Opener

Alexandra Eala, ranked world number 19, won her opening match at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, defeating British player Mika Stojsavljevic, ranked 411, with a score of 6-1, 6-2. The match took place on Monday and lasted 75 minutes.

Eala, who had struggled recently with only one win in her last three tournaments, including a first-round loss to 217th-ranked Shi Han at the Wuhan Open, emphasized the importance of treating opponents independently of their rankings. She stated, “the ball doesn’t know what rank you are,” and noted her efforts to maintain intensity.

Eala quickly established a 5-0 lead in the first set and managed to secure the match without having her service broken. She also commented on the court conditions, finding them faster than her previous venue.

In the tournament, No 5 seed Elise Mertens advanced by defeating Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, while No 2 seed Maja Chwalinska and defending champion Belinda Bencic withdrew due to injuries.