(With additional reporting from Brian Callada)
Alex Eala got the early boot at the WTA 1000 Qatar TotalEnergies Open on Monday as she lost to former tormentor Tereza Valentová, 7-6(6), 6-1 in their main draw match at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.
From Thrilling First Set to Dominant Second Frame
Eala, 20, and Valentová, 18, went toe-to-toe in a grueling and heart-thumping first set, where the Filipina twice led, 5-4 and 6-5, in front of another pro-Eala crowd. The emerging Filipina ace recovered from a 0-2 deficit to build a 4-2 advantage in the opener as momentum swung between the two young standouts.
The 18-year-old Czech, however, steadied to force a tiebreak and surged ahead with aggressive groundstrokes. Although Eala saved multiple set points to stay alive, Valentová converted her fourth opportunity to seize the set after more than an hour of play.
Perhaps energized by her comeback win in the first set, Valentová turned up the heat in the second frame, outplaying Eala in every way to notch a commanding 6-1 victory and seal the match via sweep. The Czech ace was so in the zone in the second set that she raced out to a 5-0 lead rather quickly and kept Eala from even launching any semblance of a comeback.
As usual, Eala’s serve was an issue as she had zero aces and three double faults. She also scored points on 57% and 46% of her first and second serves, respectively, while getting broken in four out of seven opportunities. In contrast, Valentová tallied four aces against three double faults and scored points on 75% and 44% of her first and second serves.
The victory marked Valentová’s second win over the 20-year-old Filipina in the past six months, following a dominant straight-sets triumph during at Japan Open in October 2025.
A Disappointing End to Alex Eala’s Historic Day
The day actually started off great for Alex Eala, who saw her rise in the WTA rankings continue as she climbed five spots from her previous ranking of No. 45 to a career-best No. 40. With it, the Quezon City native reset yet again the highest WTA ranking ever for a Filipina and underscored her ascending game.
But with her early exit at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open at the expense of Valentová, who is currently No. 48, it’s likely Eala’s ranking would drop a few tiers as the Czech is poised to overtake the Filipina regardless of how she finishes the tournament. (Tereza Valentová now has 1270 points to Alex Eala’s 1254.)
Alex Eala Next Tournament
The Guadalajara Open 2025 champion will be staying in the Middle East for her next tournament as she’s slated to compete at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai. The tournament, a WTA 1000 variety, will run from February 15 to February 21.
