Words by Florenda Corpuz
Photos by Din Eugenio
TOKYO – Alex Eala’s campaign at the Toray Pan Pacific Open ended in the quarterfinals Friday, but the Filipina said she enjoyed her first appearance at the Tokyo tournament and appreciated the support of Filipino fans who came out to cheer her on.
Eala, the eighth seed and world No. 19, lost to Russia’s Diana Shnaider, 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, at Ariake Coliseum. The two had also met at the Ningbo Open in China the previous week.
Alex Eala plays against British wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic during their first-round match at the Toray Pan Pacific Open at Ariake Coliseum on Oct. 26, 2026.
“It was a huge battle. I think we both reached a really high level,” Eala said after the match. “I’m proud of myself, even though I lost. I had my chances, and hopefully I can do better in those moments next time.”
The Filipina tennis trailblazer said playing before the crowd in Tokyo made the experience special.
“To be in front of the crowd and to play in front of this atmosphere is always super, super special, and I love Japan. As a whole, whether I’m here for tennis or not, I really had fun,” she told Filipino-Japanese Journal.
The 21-year-old credited her family for their role in her career, describing her achievements as a shared success. She called her brother her best friend and said she would not have reached this point without him.
Eala now turns her attention to the Hong Kong tournament, scheduled from Nov. 2 to 8, where she said she is excited and highly motivated to compete. She said she would put off reflecting on her season for another week, adding, “So check back in a week.”
