British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic was denied a primary ever WTA win after an agonising 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (8-6) defeat by Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima within the first spherical of the Pan Pacific Open.
The 15-year-old, the reigning US Open girls’ champion, held a 3-2 lead in opposition to Uchijima, ranked 57th on this planet, however was damaged three video games in a row as she misplaced the primary set in Tokyo.
Stojsavljevic saved two match factors within the second set and went on to win the tie-break 9-7 to degree the match.
She took that momentum into the deciding set, breaking Uchijima to take a 5-2 lead.
However the world quantity 633 missed the chance to serve out the match, permitting 23-year-old Uchijima to degree at 5-5.
Within the tie-break, Stojsavljevic saved two extra match factors however Uchijima recovered to see out the win.
Uchijima will face prime seed Qinwen Zheng within the second spherical.
Elsewhere, British primary Katie Boulter is thru to the final 16 after easing to a 6-1 6-4 win in opposition to Australia’s Priscilla Hon.
The 28-year-old broke the Australian thrice within the first set, changing 100% of her break factors.
It was equally easy for Boulter within the second set as she broke Hon, ranked 184 locations under her, twice.
The world quantity 33 will play Japan’s Kyoka Okamura subsequent.