In a thrilling Pan Pacific Open, 15-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic nearly clinched her first WTA title, showcasing her extraordinary talent and fighting spirit despite narrowly falling to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in a dramatic three-set battle.
British tennis hopeful Mika Stojsavljevic came heartbreakingly near to securing her first WTA Tour victory, narrowly losing 6-4, 6-7 (9-7), 7-6 (8-6) in a thrilling three-set match against Japan's Moyuka Uchijima at the Pan Pacific Open. The 15-year-old, who clinched her first girls' title at the US Open just two weeks earlier, displayed a commendable fighting spirit.
In her debut in the WTA main draw, Stojsavljevic initially showed no signs of nervousness as she exchanged powerful shots with the 57th-ranked Uchijima. The young British player took a 3-2 lead in the first set; however, she couldn't sustain her momentum as she lost her next three service games consecutively. Uchijima capitalized on these opportunities, taking the first set 6-4 despite Stojsavljevic's strong start.
Ranked 633rd in the world, the teenager displayed remarkable determination in the second set. Stojsavljevic saved two match points in the tiebreak and fought back to equalize at 9-7, showcasing her ability to excel under pressure as a big match player. Her impressive performance energized her in the third set, where she took command and raced to a 5-2 lead, nearly securing her first Tour victory.
However, Uchijima delivered her best performance during the tie's concluding stages. The Japanese player orchestrated an impressive comeback, leveling the match at 5-5 after Stojsavljevic faltered in the tiebreaker. The match proceeded into another tiebreak, where Stojsavljevic saved two match points before Uchijima ultimately secured her victory. Uchijima will now compete against the top-seed Zheng Qinwen in the second round in Tokyo.
Although Stojsavljevic has not won this match, she can take great pride in her performance, which surely signals a promising future for the young British player. Competing at this level at the age of 15 highlights her exceptional talent, and her fighting spirit in Tokyo will certainly propel her future success on the professional circuit.
In other matches, British number one Katie Boulter dominated her game, beating Australian Priscilla Hon with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Boulter, currently ranked 33rd in the world, broke Hon's serve three times in the first set and twice in the second, securing an easy win and setting up a last-16 match against Japan's Kyoka Okamura.
In Vienna, Britain's top player Jack Draper secured a victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori with a score of 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in what was an intense battle. Draper will next take on Italian Luciano Darderi, who had previously eliminated Dominic Thiem earlier in the tournament. Meanwhile, another Briton, Cameron Norrie, was defeated by American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), with the second set almost reaching a tiebreaker for a brief moment.
