Eala faces lower-ranked but dangerous foe in 2nd round of HK Open

A TOUGH assignment awaits Alex Eala in the second round of the Hong Kong Open 2026.

The Filipina star will take on Czech Tereza Valentova on Thursday, Nov. 5, for a chance to earn a spot in the quarterfinal round.

Eala and Valentova set up a second-round meeting after hurdling their respective opening-round assignments. Eala turned back Australian Emerson Jones, 6-4, 6-3, while Valentova nipped Japanese Himeno Sakatsume, 6-3, 7-5.

Eala and Valentova are poles apart in the Women’s Tennis Association ranking.

The 21-year-old Eala is at No. 17, a career-high, while the 19-year-old Valentova is ranked No. 85.

The younger Valentova, however, has shown she has what it takes to beat Eala. She has proven it not just once but twice.

The two first met in the first round of the Japan Open last year with Valentova scoring a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Valentova showed her first win was no fluke when she defeated Eala again in the Doha Open last February, 7-6 (1), 6-1.

Scoring sweet revenge against Valentova would be a perfect time for Eala as she looks to end a string of empty runs in her Asian swing.

Eala suffered early exits in her previous tournaments, coming up empty in the Singapore Open, Wuhan Open, and Ningbo Open.(CCM)

• Tags
• #Alex Eala
• #Tereza Valentova
• #Hong Kong Open 2026
• #WTA Hong Kong Open
• #women’s tennis
• #WTA rankings
• #Alex Eala No. 17 ranking
• #Tereza Valentova No. 85 ranking
• #second-round match
• #Hong Kong Open quarterfinal berth
• #Filipina tennis star
• #Czech tennis player