By el Amigo
Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala powered her way into the Round of 16 of the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo after dispatching British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic, 6-1, 6-2, on Monday, October 26.
The 21-year-old Eala dominated the 17-year-old wildcard with aggressive returning and accurate groundstrokes to arrange a fourth-round clash with Australian Talia Gibson, currently ranked world No. 38.
Gibson advanced after beating compatriot Daria Kasatkina, 6-0, 7-5, in the opening round. The Australian has compiled 33 victories against 27 defeats across professional competitions this year and reached the quarterfinals of the Japan Women’s Open in Osaka.
Eala holds a 2-0 advantage over Gibson in their previous meetings, both recorded in 2023. The Filipina won their first encounter, 6-3, 6-1, at the W40 Palma del Río in June, before overcoming the Australian, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, at the W25 Aldershot in August.
The two players have also partnered in doubles, including at the W75 Trnava tournament.
Their Round of 16 encounter is expected on Tuesday, October 27, although tournament organizers have yet to release the official schedule.
A win would move Eala closer to a possible quarterfinal rematch with Russia’s Diana Shnaider, who eliminated the Filipina in the Round of 16 of the Ningbo Open, 7-5, 6-4. Shnaider must first win her own Round of 16 match.
Eala will focus solely on singles in Tokyo after withdrawing from the doubles event with Filipino-American partner Desirae Krawczyk. Tournament withdrawal information cited a back injury involving Krawczyk.
After her commanding victory over Stojsavljevic, Eala now faces a tougher challenge against Gibson as she seeks to extend her campaign in the Japanese capital.
ia/xf
