Who is Tereza Valentova — Alex Eala’s Round of 64 foe in Qatar Open?

Alex Eala will kick off her WTA1000 Qatar Open campaign against a familiar face, taking on Tereza Valentova of Czech Republic in the Round of 64.

Eala, who recently climbed to a new career-high no. 40 in the WTA rankings, will slug it out against the 18-year-old Valentova on Monday at 8 p.m. (Manila time).

Eala and Valentova are no strangers to each other, having locked horns during the 2025 Japan Women’s Open that saw the Czech pull off a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over the Filipina ace.

Valentova is currently ranked no. 48 and had a career-best mark at no. 44 earlier this month.

Valentova is coming off a huge run at the 2026 Australian Open. She opened her run defeating Maya Joint in Round of 128 before escaping Linda Fruhvirtova in the next round.

That win set her up a Round of 32 clash with no less than Elena Rybakina, who eventually ruled the tournament after stunning world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the finals.

Valentova has yet to win a title in the WTA tour, but had a finals appearance when she reached the Japan Open championship and fell to Leylah Fernandez in three sets.

The Qatar Open will serve as Eala’s fifth tournament in the year. She opened it with a semis appearance in the ASB Classic before bowing out early in Australian Open. 

She then went home to play at the historic Philippine Women’s Open, falling to Camila Osorio in the quarterfinals, before flying for the Abu Dhabi Open and likewise reaching the quarterfinal.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News