Alexandra Eala, the second seed at the 2026 Hong Kong Open, overcame Tereza Valentová in a hard-fought encounter to advance to the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 event. Eala secured a 6-4, 7-6(9-7) victory on Thursday, turning the tables on the Czech teenager after suffering defeats in their previous two matches.
This triumph not only marked Eala’s first win against Valentová but also ended a prolonged streak of losses against Czech opponents. The top-ranked Filipina had been winless in her last ten matches against players from the Czech Republic, a drought spanning four seasons.
Hard-Fought Battle in Hong Kong
Eala took control early in the first set, racing to a 3-0 lead. However, Valentová fought back fiercely to level the score at 4-all. The 21-year-old Eala then showcased resilience, saving three break points in the ninth game before breaking Valentová’s serve to claim the set.
The second set posed a greater challenge. Valentová broke serve to move ahead 4-2, but Eala responded with grit, leveling the score at 5-5. The set ultimately progressed to a tiebreak, where Eala surged ahead with a 5-0 lead. After nearly two hours of intense play, she sealed the match on her fourth match point.
With this win, Eala’s record for the 2026 WTA season improves to 38 victories, 27 of which have come on hard courts. This includes a notable title triumph earlier in the year at Washington, DC. The Asian Games medalist continues to build momentum as the season progresses.