Eala eases into Pan Pacific Open R2; Bencic, Chwalinska retire hurt
Synopsis
Alexandra Eala cruised into the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, but two top-four seeds — defending champion Belinda Bencic and Wuhan winner Maja Chwalinska — were both forced out with injuries before they could play a ball, shaking up the draw significantly.
Key Takeaways
8 seed) defeated wild card Mika Stojsavljevic 6-1, 6-2 in 75 minutes at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo .
Stojsavljevic hit 24 winners but made 41 unforced errors ; Eala landed 68% of first serves and won 72% of those points.
2 seed Maja Chwalinska withdrew with a left thigh injury ; replaced by Kimberly Birrell as lucky loser.
Defending champion Belinda Bencic (No.
4 seed) pulled out with a right ankle injury ; replacement to be confirmed.
Eala next faces Talia Gibson , who beat Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 in an all-Australian derby.
5 seed) beat Moyuka Uchijima 6-4, 6-2 , improving to 3-0 in their head-to-head.
Alexandra Eala, the No. 8 seed, swept past 17-year-old wild card Mika Stojsavljevic 6-1, 6-2 in just 75 minutes to advance to the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Monday, 26 October. The Filipino teen was clinical despite being outgunned in raw ball-striking, keeping her errors tight while her opponent's power game unravelled.
How Eala Controlled the Match
Stojsavljevic generated 24 winners off the ground — more than triple Eala's eight — yet squandered that advantage with a staggering 41 unforced errors. Eala, by contrast, landed 68 per cent of her first serves and converted 72 per cent of those points. She faced break pressure only once, falling to 0-40 in the second game of the second set before extricating herself with two service winners and a well-timed combination play. The scoreline flattered neither Stojsavljevic's hitting nor the contest's early competitiveness, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt.
Eala's Second-Round Opponent
The Filipino star will now face Talia Gibson, who advanced from an all-Australian first-round derby after defeating qualifier Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5. Gibson, a Singapore finalist, dominated the opening set but had to dig deep in the second to seal the win. The match-up gives Eala another examination of her big-game credentials on a surface that rewards consistent baseline play.
Chwalinska and Bencic Forced Out
The tournament suffered two significant withdrawals before play had properly warmed up. No. 2 seed Maja Chwalinska, who captured her maiden WTA title in Wuhan just two weeks ago, pulled out with a left thigh injury. Australia's Kimberly Birrell — herself a first-time title winner, having claimed her maiden crown in Seoul last month — replaced Chwalinska in the main draw as a lucky loser with a first-round bye. Birrell's next assignment is a second-round meeting with qualifier Alycia Parks, who had earlier saved three set points in a tense second set to defeat Wang Xinyu 6-1, 7-6(7).
Defending champion Belinda Bencic, the No. 4 seed, also withdrew, citing a right ankle injury. Bencic will be replaced in the draw by the highest-ranked lucky loser who signed in on Tuesday. Notably, both withdrawals came from the top-four seedings, reshaping the lower half of the draw considerably and opening an easier route for the remaining contenders.
Other First-Round Results
No. 5 seed Elise Mertens extended her perfect record against Japanese wild card Moyuka Uchijima to 3-0, winning 6-4, 6-2 in a composed display. Elsewhere, Alycia Parks's gritty comeback against Wang Xinyu underlined the American qualifier's capacity to handle pressure moments — she saved one set point trailing 5-4 and two more in the subsequent tiebreak before completing the 6-1, 7-6(7) victory.
Point of View
But the bigger story at the Toray Pan Pacific Open is the structural damage caused by the dual withdrawals of Bencic and Chwalinska. Losing the defending champion and the WTA's form player of the last fortnight from the top-four seeds in the same session hands the draw a hollow quality that will affect broadcast narratives and betting markets alike. For Eala, a draw now thinned of its most dangerous names is a genuine opportunity — but the pressure that comes with a clearer path is its own kind of test.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Alexandra Eala's first-round match at the Pan Pacific Open?
Alexandra Eala beat 17-year-old wild card Mika Stojsavljevic 6-1, 6-2 in 75 minutes on 26 October in Tokyo. Stojsavljevic hit 24 winners but made 41 unforced errors, ultimately unable to convert her power-hitting into consistent pressure.
Why did Maja Chwalinska withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open?
Maja Chwalinska, the No. 2 seed, withdrew due to a left thigh injury. She had only recently won her first career WTA title in Wuhan two weeks prior to the tournament.
Why did Belinda Bencic withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open?
Defending champion Belinda Bencic, the No. 4 seed, cited a right ankle injury as the reason for her withdrawal. She will be replaced in the draw by the highest-ranked lucky loser who signed in on Tuesday.
Who replaced Chwalinska in the Pan Pacific Open draw?
Australia's Kimberly Birrell entered the main draw as a lucky loser following Chwalinska's withdrawal. Birrell, who won her maiden WTA title in Seoul last month, received a first-round bye and will face qualifier Alycia Parks in the second round.
Who is Eala's next opponent at the Pan Pacific Open?
Eala will face Talia Gibson in the second round. Gibson advanced by beating qualifier Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 in an all-Australian first-round contest.
