MANILA – Alexandra Eala saw her Qatar Open campaign cut short after bowing to Czech teenager Tereza Valentová, 7-6(8), 6-1, in a first-round match Monday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.
Eala pushed Valentová to the limit in a tightly contested opening set, where neither player surrendered serve and the outcome hinged on a tense tiebreak. Valentová edged the Filipina, 8-6, in the breaker to seize early control of the match.
The Czech carried that momentum into the second set, tightening her grip with aggressive returns and sustained pressure on Eala’s serve to pull away decisively and close out the contest in just over an hour.
Valentová dictated play behind a reliable serve, firing four aces and winning 75 percent of points on her first serve. Eala posted a 66 percent first-serve rate but converted only 56 percent of those points and failed to register an ace.
Efficiency on crucial points proved decisive. Valentová converted four of seven break-point chances, while Eala managed two of five. The Czech also held the edge in total points won, 70-54, and finished with 13 games to Eala’s seven.
The loss ends Eala’s run in Doha as the 20-year-old turns her focus to the next stops on the WTA Tour./PN
