Alex Eala will take on 18-year-old Tereze Valentova in the Round of 32 of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open 2025.
Alex Eala will begin her campaign at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, a WTA 250 event, against rising Czech star Tereze Valentova in the Round of 32.
Eala, currently world no. 54, is coming off a busy initial leg of her Asian swing that included a semifinal finish in Jingshan, a quarterfinal in Suzhou, and a qualifying appearance in Wuhan.
This will be her first match since October 4, and she aims to rebound after an early exit in Wuhan.
Valentova, 18, is the world no. 78 and earned her spot in the main draw by sweeping qualifier Alina Charaeva in straight sets and overcoming Greet Minnen in three sets.
Much like Eala, the Czech has enjoyed a breakthrough year, climbing from world no. 261 at the end of 2024, winning two WTA 125 titles, and making the Round of 64 at both Roland Garros and the US Open, losing only to eventual champion Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina, respectively.
The clash presents a compelling matchup between two players on the rise: Eala brings her experience and steady ascent in the rankings, while Valentova carries momentum from her qualifying run and strong results this season.
The winner will be on course for a Round of 16 showdown with either third seed Elise Mertens or Cristina Bucsa.
The Eala-Valentova showdown is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, as the fourth match at Court 1.
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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]