Akiko Gunji defeated Shelley Stephens 6-4 6-4 in the Kugayama 3 10K round of 32 on hard. The result followed the form book — Akiko Gunji came in leading the head-to-head 2–0, defending last year's round of 32. Akiko Gunji extended the head-to-head to 3–0.
| Date | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-09-07 | Kugayama 1 10K | R32 | hard | Akiko Gunji | 3-6 6-4 6-2 |
| 1998-09-07 | Kugayama 4 10K | QF | hard | Akiko Gunji | 2-6 6-4 6-2 |