Tough field awaits Eala in Japan Open

Sports

FILIPINA tennis sensation Alex Eala is bracing for a tough stretch when she competes in the WTA 250 Japan Open in Osaka, Japan set from Oct. 13 to 19.

Top-tier participants will see action in the tournament, including defending champion Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands. Home bet and four-time Grand Slam champ Naomi Osaka is one of the competitors to watch out for.

Also vying in the competition are World No. 9 Elise Mertens of Belgium, No. 25 Leylah Fernandez of Canada, No. 27 Linda Noskova of Czech Republic, No. 28 Cristina Bucsa of Spain, No. 37 Iva Jovic of the United States (US), No. 41 Lois Boisson of France, No. 48 Jessica Maneiro of Spain, No. 50 Emiliana Arango of Colombia, and No. 51 Hailey Baptiste of the US.

World No. 42 Jaqueline Cristian of Romania, No. 43 Olga Danilovic of Serbia, No. 45 Ashlyn Krueger of the US, No. 47 Ann Li of the US, No. 52 Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic, No. 54 Katie Boulter of Great, No. 55 Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia, Britain, No. 56 Marika Sakkari of Greece, and No. 60 Alycia Parks of the US will also see action.

For Eala, she will look to break into the Top 50 after recently moving up to career-high No. 54.

The Japan Open will be the continuation of Eala’s Asian swing after three stops in China. The Asian swing included stints in the Jingshan Open, Suzhou Open 125, and Wuhan Open qualifiers.

Eala made deep runs in the Jingshan Open and Suzhou Open 125 but failed to advance to the main draw of Wuhan Open after losing to Moyuka Uchijima in the first round of the qualifiers last Satruday, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6.

From Japan, Eala will also compete in the Guangzhou Open on Oct. 20 to 26 and the Hong Kong Open on Oct. 27 to Nov. 2.(CCM)