Filipina tennis star Alex Eala continues her Asian swing at the Japan Open, where she faces Czech rising star Tereza Valentova in the opening-round match.
Alex Eala continues her Asian swing at the Japan Open, where the Filipina tennis star faces Czech challenger Tereza Valentova in the Round of 32 on Tuesday, October 14.
Match time is at 2:40 p.m. (PH Time).
After a string of tournaments in China, Eala returns to action hoping to regain her rhythm following a tough exit in the Wuhan Open qualifying round last week.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala falls to Uchijima in Wuhan qualifying after grueling stretch of matches]
Earlier, the 20-year-old reached the semifinals of the Jingshan Open and embarked on a quarterfinal run at the Suzhou Open.
But standing between Eala and a berth in the Round of 16 is one of the tour’s rising teenage prospects.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala draws fellow breakout star Tereze Valentova in Japan Women's Open]
The 18-year-old Valentova booked her spot in the main draw after dispatching Alina Charaeva and Greet Minnen in the qualifying rounds.
Currently ranked No. 78 in the world, the Czech has been on a steady ascent since the summer, claiming her first two WTA 125 titles at the Città di Grado Tennis Cup in Italy and the Porto Open in Portugal.
Her breakthrough semifinal run at the Prague Open in July propelled her into the top 100 for the first time in her career.
Valentova also reached the second round of both the French Open and the U.S. Open earlier this year, adding valuable Grand Slam experience to her résumé.
Should Eala prevail over her Czech counterpart, she will set up a Round of 16 clash with either third seed Elise Mertens or familiar foe Cristina Bucsa.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
—
[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.]