After a rough run in China, can Japan give Alex Eala the reset she's looking for?
The eighth seed opens her Toray Pan Pacific Open campaign in Tokyo on Monday, October 26, against British wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament. For Eala, it's a chance to rebound from what Spin.ph called a sub-par stretch in the WTA Tour's Asian swing.
Where Eala Stands
Eala, 21, is ranked 20th in the world, a dip from her career-best No. 18. The slide came after she lost four of her last seven matches following a historic run to the US Open round of 32 last month.
The losses came in different places. In Singapore, she fell to Russia's Tatiana Prozorova, then ranked No. 117. In Wuhan, she lost to No. 177 Shi Han. At the Asian Games, she entered as the top seed and won two matches, but lost to world No. 81 Wang Xiyu in the semifinals and fell short of gold. Reports also note she went home with a bronze medal.
Her most recent tournament ended in the round of 16 at the Ningbo Open in China, where she lost a close match to Diana Shnaider.
The Bright Spots
It hasn't all been bad this season. Eala won her first WTA singles title in Washington, D.C., reached a career-high No. 18, and made the fourth round of Wimbledon. Tokyo is the penultimate stop of her Asian swing and her season, with Hong Kong the last tournament left.
The Opponent
Stojsavljevic is 17 and ranked No. 308 in the world. Her career-best No. 261 came in June 2024, when she won the US Open girls' singles title. She beat Iva Jovic in the semifinals and Japan's Wakana Sonobe in the final.
There's a neat parallel here. Eala won that same US Open girls' title in 2022. According to INQUIRER.net, this will be the first time the two meet.
What's at Stake
The Tokyo field is strong. World No. 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, Poland's Maja Chwalinska, Jovic, and Shnaider all earned first-round byes. The champion receives $185,500.
If Eala gets past Stojsavljevic, she will face the winner of the match between Australia's Talia Gibson and a qualifier in the second round. A potential quarterfinal rematch against world No. 13 Shnaider could follow. That's not certain yet, as it depends on the results.
Filipino Support
The Philippine Embassy in Japan has invited Filipinos to attend the tournament and watch Eala play, according to INQUIRER.net.
What Comes Next
With the season winding down, Tokyo offers Eala a fresh draw and a chance to change the tone of her recent results. It starts with one match on Monday.
📌 Quick Summary
Who: Alex Eala (PHI, No. 8 seed, World No. 20) vs. Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR, wildcard, World No. 308)
What: First round, Toray Pan Pacific Open (WTA 500)
When: Monday, October 26, 2026
Where: Tokyo, Japan
Score or Result: Match has not been played yet
Why it matters: Eala looks to rebound after losing four of her last seven matches
📸 Photo & Content Credit: Spin.ph (Randolph B. Leongson); Photo: POC Media Team; additional details from INQUIRER.net, Tennishead, and Filipino-Japanese Journal