Japanese qualifier Mei Yamaguchi secures a comeback victory. — Supplied photo

The second day of the 27th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge at the Habtoor Grand Resort saw significant upsets, with both last year's finalists being eliminated. Meanwhile, the crowd's favorite and 2022 US Junior Open champion, Alexandra Eala, advanced smoothly in her opening match.

Defending champion and sixth seed Anastasia Tikhonova struggled for an hour and 49 minutes before succumbing to Japanese qualifier Mei Yamaguchi 6-2, 3-6, 2-6. Third-seeded Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands also fell, losing 4-6, 2-6 to Belgian qualifier Sofia Costoulas.

Nineteen-year-old Eala, who won the Junior US Open two years ago, managed her game well to defeat 16-year-old Rada Zolotareva 6-2, 6-3 in a match between young talents.

On the first day, second-seeded Arina Rodionova was among the notable casualties, while top seed Polina Kudermetova advanced by defeating Swiss player Leonie Kung.

Tikhonova initially dominated, winning the first set 6-2. However, Yamaguchi rallied, taking the next two sets 6-3, 6-2, setting up a clash with Canada's Carol Zhao, who beat Lina Glushko 7-6, 6-1.

Yamaguchi expressed delight at her consecutive wins in her tournament debut. "The goal was to stay competitive. Winning is often better than playing well but losing. This is my final tournament of the season, and I prefer securing wins over high-level play and defeat," she said.

Tikhonova accepted her loss gracefully. "It is what it is," she said. "Perhaps it's a tradition here that no one has defended their title. I haven't played for two weeks, which showed today. Besides, Yamaguchi played well, and there wasn't much I could do," she added.

Eala impressed the home crowd with her controlled performance. Leading 3-0 early, she maintained her lead despite Zolotareva's break in the fourth game, eventually winning 6-2 in 33 minutes. "It was unpredictable but a good match. There were tense moments, but I found my answers. This win boosts my confidence," Eala noted.

RESULTS: (Day Two of the 27th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge at the Habtoor Grand Resort, Tuesday) Berfu Cengiz bt Tara Wurth 6-4, 6-2; Mei Yamaguchi bt Anastasia Tikhonova 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Evialina Laskevich bt Ekaterina Yashina 7-6, 6-0; Sofia Costoulas bt Arianne Hartono 6-4, 6-2; Alexandra Eala bt Rada Zolotareva 6-2, 6-3; Carol Zhao bt Lina Glushko 7-6, 6-1; Tatiana Prozorova bt Freya Christie 6-1, 6-2; Elena Pridankina bt Viktoria Morvayova 6-2, 6-0; Amandine Hesse bt Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty 6-1, 6-3; Jodie Anna Burrage bt Aliona Falei 6-2, 6-4; Caroline Werner bt Margaux Rouvroy 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

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