Unseeded Japanese challenger Mei Yamaguchi stands in Alex Eala’s path at the Jingshan Open as they meet for the first time in a Round of 16 showdown.
Mei Yamaguchi stands in the way of Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala and a spot in the Jingshan Tennis Open quarterfinals.
The Japanese player and Eala will face off for the first time in a Round of 16 showdown on Thursday, Sept. 25, with match time yet to be announced.
Yamaguchi carved out a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Hong Kong’s Hong-Yi Cody Wong in her last match to set-up a clash with Eala, who scored a 6-3, 7-5 disposal of Belarusian foe Aliona Falei in her tournament opener.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala fends off Belarusian foe Falei to march on in Jingshan Open]
Currently ranked no. 268, Yamaguchi owns two International Tennis Federation singles (ITF) titles and is still seeking her first WTA crown.
She reached a career-high ranking of no. 242 in May and last competed on the WTA circuit in August, falling in the first qualifying round of the W100 Monterrey in Mexico.
Entering the matchup as a heavy underdog, the 26-year-old Yamaguchi will look to pull off a major upset against the tournament’s top seed in the WTA 125 event.
Prior to the Jingshan Open, Eala last played at the SP Open in Brazil, where she lost in the quarterfinals to Indonesia’s Janice Tjen.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala ends hot streak in Brazil, drops to Janice Tjen in SP Open quarters]
The 20-year-old Eala already boasts one WTA Challenger title, which she won in Guadalajara shortly after her impressive run in the U.S. Open.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.