Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala will begin her WTA 1000 Qatar Open campaign on Monday with a face-off against fellow up-and-comer Tereza Valentová at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.
Valentová hails from Czechoslovakia and is a spot above Eala in the world rankings at No. 44. Just 18 years old, Valentová shares quite a few similarities with the former Rafa Nadal Academy alum and will likely give the latter a tough early challenge in the Qatar Open.
Alex Eala vs. Tereza Valentová: Who Has the Edge?
Valentová, like Eala, began her WTA career in 2021 but burst into the limelight only in 2025—just like the Filipina. She also won her first WTA title in June last year at the Città di Grado Tennis Cup, or just three months before Eala copped her breakthrough championship at the Guadalajara Open. Now, they are No. 44 and 45 in the WTA world rankings and are similarly viewed as two of tennis’ rising stars.
Aside from being ahead of Alex Eala in the world rankings, Tereza Valentová is also one up on their head-to-head matchup. The two rising stars met once last year, in the Round of 32 of the 2025 Japan Women’s Open in Osaka, and the Czech came away on top, 6-1, 6-2.
It was a command performance for Valentová that time, and it underscores how big of a challenge Eala will be facing if she wants to get her Qatar Open off to a winning note.
Bumpy Road Ahead for Alex Eala
Indeed, Eala’s first order of business at the Qatar Open is to exact vengeance against a former tormenter who dominated her in their lone matchup. And, in case she passes that first acid test, she could be on a collision course with 2023 Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova in the Round of 16 and possibly Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals if she could make it that far.
The complete details of the Alex Eala vs. Tereza Valentová face-off on Monday are still to be decided.
