QATAR — Philippine tennis star Alex Eala bowed out of the Qatar Open 2026 after a hard-fought match against Tereza Valentova of the Czech Republic on Monday, February 9. Eala fell 7-6(6), 6-1 in the Round of 64.
The opening set was closely contested, with both players exchanging games before heading into a tiebreak. Valentova captured the crucial points to take the set, 7-6. The Czech then took control in the second set, winning the first five games before Eala managed to score one, 5-1. Valentova closed the set 6-1 to secure her victory.
Eala, who recently competed in the Abu Dhabi Open, reached the quarterfinals in singles and semifinals in doubles with partner Janice Tjen. She has also represented the Philippines in the ASB Classic, Kooyoung Classic, and Australian Open earlier this year.
Despite the early exit in Qatar, Eala’s consistent performances in international tournaments highlight her position as one of the Philippines’ top tennis talents, promising more strong showings in upcoming events.
