Alex Eala has seen this movie before. Same opponent. Same early-round stakes. Same itch for payback.
Across the net in Doha stood Tereza Valentova, the Czech teenager who stopped Eala’s Japan Open run last October. The Round-of-64 at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, the first WTA1000 event this year, offered a rematch. For one electric set, Eala made it feel personal.
Valentova jumped out fast, taking a 2-0 lead. Eala answered with fire, rattling off four straight games 4-2, and seemingly intent to change the narrative The rallies lengthened. The crowd leaned in. Momentum refused to settle.
The first set turned into a tug-of-war. Valentova broke back with a pair of stinging returns. A tiebreak followed, sharp and nervy. Valentova stepped forward first, carving a volley to lead 4-3. Eala, stubborn as ever, erased triple set point, cracking winners to level at 6-6.
It was still not enough. Valentova struck a return winner to edge ahead, then sealed the set on her fourth chance as Eala’s reply found the net. First set gone. Oxygen gone with it.
From there, Valentova played free and fast. Errors disappeared. Power took over. Eala searched, but the legs did not fully answer. The second set flew by, 6-1, with Valentova finishing the night with 22 winners, four aces, and total control.
Losses like this sting. But context matters.
Eala leaves Doha ranked No. 40 in the world, five spots higher than where she began her Middle East swing. She remains the first Filipina to reach the Top 50, still drawing loud support from the diaspora and louder expectations back home.
The revenge will wait. The rise does not.
