British tennis is in a strange place at the moment, with so much pain and heartache, but also plenty of cause for optimism as well.
The injury turmoil of Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, which has plagued both of their 2026 campaigns, naturally puts an overwhelmingly negative spin on things.
However, beyond this duo, there is still plenty of talent, with Sonay Kartal’s recent run to the Wuhan Open final representing a particular standout moment of late.
Katie Boulter is another who is quietly impressing, having competed in the Japan Open semi-final today, sadly losing.
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Delving even deeper into the wealth of talent that British tennis has at its disposal, there is one more recent moment worth celebrating, even if it is smaller than the two aforementioned milestones.
After all, aside from Wimbledon and the Billie Jean King Cup, Mika Stojsavljevic is about to play in the biggest tournament of her career.
Who is British talent Mika Stojsavljevic?
This is the second time that the 17-year-old has been handed a wildcard to the Pan Pacific Open, and she will be desperate to claim a first win here, having lost in the first round back in 2024.
However, she is certainly a much-improved player since then, having enjoyed plenty of milestone moments, including her main-draw debut at a Grand Slam.
This is a highly accomplished junior star as well, which should provide the foundation for success at the senior level eventually.
Back in 2023, Stojsavljevic reached the Wimbledon doubles final alongside Mimi Xu, before going on to win the junior US Open title. She defeated top seed Emerson Jones and third seed Iva Jovic en route, and at the back end of last year became the highest-ranked 16-year-old on the WTA Tour.
Her pedigree is clear, and opportunities like this will be vital in helping her translate her junior success into senior stardom.
Mika Stojsavljevic drawn to play Alex Eala in the Tokyo Open first round
It will not be easy for this British teenager to score her first win at this event though, given her draw.
Stojsavljevic is due to play Alex Eala in the very first round, forced to try and unsettle one of the most impressive players of 2026.
That being said, the Filipina sensation has faltered of late, with her form trailing off since her strong US Open run.
She has lost in the first round of two of her last three events, and was well beaten most recently by Diana Shnaider in Ningbo.
It will take something really special, but there’s no reason why Stojsavljevic can’t feel confident of causing Eala some trouble in their match next week.
