Alexandra Eala Cruises into Pan Pacific Open Second Round as Chwalinska, Bencic Withdraw Injured

Tokyo, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Eighth seed Alexandra Eala cruised into the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old wild card Mika Stojsavljevic in just 75 minutes on Monday. Meanwhile, second seed Maja Chwalinska and defending champion Belinda Bencic withdrew from the tournament due to injuries.

Stojsavljevic showcased her power from the baseline, striking 24 winners compared with Eala’s eight. However, the teenager struggled to maintain consistency, committing 41 unforced errors that proved costly.

According to the WTA, Eala landed 68 per cent of her first serves and won 72 per cent of the points behind them. She faced break points in just one game—the second game of the second set—and recovered from a 0-40 deficit with two service winners and an effective one-two combination.

Eala will next take on Talia Gibson, who reached the final in Singapore, after the Australian defeated compatriot and qualifier Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 in an all-Australian first-round encounter.

Gibson won the opening eight games before Kasatkina mounted a stronger challenge in the second set. The Australian ultimately held her nerve to secure the straight-sets victory.

The tournament also suffered two significant withdrawals. Chwalinska, the second seed who captured her maiden WTA title in Wuhan two weeks ago, pulled out because of a left thigh injury.

Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, who won her first career title in Seoul last month, replaced Chwalinska in the main draw as a lucky loser and received a first-round bye. Birrell will face American qualifier Alycia Parks in the second round.

Parks advanced after defeating Wang Xinyu 6-1, 7-6(7), saving three set points in the second set—one while trailing 5-4 and two during the tiebreak.

Defending champion Bencic also withdrew, citing a right ankle injury. Her replacement will be the highest-ranked lucky loser who signs in on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, fifth seed Elise Mertens extended her head-to-head record against Japanese wild card Moyuka Uchijima to 3-0 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.