Alex Eala Beats Valentova for the First Time, Reaches Hong Kong Quarterfinals
Alex Eala beat Tereza Valentova 6-4, 7-6 (7) on Thursday night at Victoria Park Centre Court in Hong Kong. The win sends her into the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 event. It was her first victory over the Czech teenager in three meetings, and it took just under two hours.
Two straight-set losses before this one
Valentova beat Eala 6-1, 6-2 at the 2025 Japan Open in Osaka. She won again in Doha this February, 7-6 (6), 6-1. Eala walked onto the court in Hong Kong without a win against her and without a set.
Eala is the second seed and sits at a career-high No. 17. Valentova is No. 85. Eala’s Asian swing had been uneven, though. She lost in the Round of 64 in Wuhan, went out in the Round of 16 in Ningbo, and fell to Diana Shnaider in three sets in the Tokyo quarterfinals.
A fast start, then a scramble
Eala saved break points in her first two service games and broke in the second game to lead 3-0. She extended that to 4-1. Valentova won three straight games to level at 4-4. Eala broke her in the 10th game, with the Czech serving to stay in the set, and took it on the first of three set points.
In the second set, Valentova broke Eala and held to lead 5-3. She could not close it out. Eala broke back and the set went to a tiebreak.
Closing it out at 9-7
Eala jumped to a 5-0 lead. Valentova fought back and leveled at 6-6 after Eala had reached match point. She pulled level again at 7-7 when Eala sent a shot wide. Eala won the next two points and finished it 9-7.
Eala landed 85 percent of her first serves, won 61 percent of the points behind them, and converted all four of her break points. Valentova turned three of her 12 break chances into breaks. Eala won 78 points to Valentova’s 68.
Friday against Ruzic
Eala opened the tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Emerson Jones. Her quarterfinal opponent on Friday is Antonia Ruzic of Croatia, ranked No. 81. Leylah Fernandez withdrew from the tournament with an injury, which leaves Eala, top seed Sorana Cirstea and Maria Sakkari as the only top-five seeds still in the draw.
Eala lost in the Round of 16 here last year to Victoria Mboko, who went on to win the title.
