Who is Tereza Valentova? Alex Eala's Hong Kong Open second round foe - GMA Network

Alexandra 'Alex' Eala will have a familiar obstacle to overcome in her bid to advance to the Hong Kong Open quarterfinals, with Czech teenager Tereza Valentova standing in her way once again.

The rising Czech youngster has had the Filipina's number in their previous encounters, beating her in straight sets at the 2025 Kinoshita Group Japan Open and the 2026 Qatar Open. Eala now hopes the third time will be the charm as she looks to book a quarterfinal berth.

At just 19 years old, Valentova is already one of the Czech Republic's rising tennis stars, ranking ninth among 10 Czech players currently inside the WTA Top 100 at No. 85.

She trails compatriots Karolina Muchova (No. 7), Linda Noskova (No. 8), Marie Bouzkova (No. 23), Nikola Bartunkova (No. 29), Sara Bejlek (No. 33), Katerina Siniakova (No. 47), Barbora Krejcikova (No. 48), and Karolina Pliskova (No. 51).

In 2025, Valentova enjoyed a breakthrough season, reaching her first WTA Tour final at the Kinoshita Open in Osaka, where she defeated Eala in the Round of 32 before advancing to the championship match and eventually falling to Canada's Leylah Fernandez.

Valentova, who had a career-high ranking of No. 42 last May, also holds two WTA125 titles, ruling the Grado Tennis Cup in Italy and Porto Open in Portugal both in 2025 as well.

Like Eala, Valentova was also a former junior star after having ruled both the 2024 singles and doubles editions of the French Open.