Alexandra Eala will now head to the Qatar Open as she looks to continue her strong start to the 2026 season.
Eala is faced with a tough Qatar Open draw as she looks to perform strongly in the first-ever WTA 1000 event she’s ever qualified for thanks to her ranking.
The 20-year-old has climbed to world number 40 thanks to her performances in Abu Dhabi and the Philippines in recent weeks.
She now has a golden opportunity in Qatar to revert a very strange record she’s picked up on the WTA Tour.
Alexandra Eala’s terrible record against Czech players will be tested in Qatar
Eala has played nine matches against Czech players without picking up a single win, dating back to her ITF days in 2022.
The Filipina star will need to instantly rectify the record as she is drawn to play Tereza Valentova in the first round of the Qatar Open.
What does Alexandra Eala need to improve in 2026 to challenge for a Grand Slam title?
Valentova knocked Eala out of the 2025 Japan Open, becoming the ninth Czech star to defeat the 20-year-old.
| Alexandra Eala’s losing streak against Czech players | Tournament | Result |
| Tereza Valentova | 2025 Japan Open | L |
| Marketa Vondrousova | 2025 Canadian Open | L |
| Barbora Krejcikova | 2025 Wimbledon | L |
| Linda Fruhvirtova | 2025 Birmingham Open | L |
| Marie Bouzkova | 2024 Jiangxi Open | L |
| Katerina Siniakova | 2024 Wuhan Open | L |
| Marie Bouzkova | 2024 Guadalajara Open | L |
| Tereza Martincova | 2024 ITF Slovakia | L |
| Anastasia Zarycka | 2022 ITF Grand Canaria | L |
Eala could then play Karolina Muchova in round two and then potentially Karolina Pliskova in round three of the Masters event.
If the Filipina star makes the fourth round, there’s a huge possibility that her wretched record against Czech stars could be a thing of the past.
Eala’s Qatar Open campaign is set to begin against Valentova on Monday, 9 February, with the order of play yet to be confirmed.
Alexandra Eala posts social media message ahead of the Qatar Open
Eala has been jetting all across South East Asia following appearances in Manila, Abu Dhabi, and now Qatar.
Ahead of her first Masters tournament of the year, the Filipina took to social media to update her fans on her whereabouts.
Does anybody else even come close to Alex Eala’s popularity right now?
On Instagram, the 20-year-old wrote: “Thank you Abu Dhabi! A time was had! Next stop -> Doha,” following her quarter-final appearance at the WTA 500 event.
Eala currently holds a 7-4 singles record in 2026, with her best performance coming at the ASB Classic where she reached the final four.
The star defeated the likes of Donna Vekic and Magda Linette to earn herself 98 WTA Tour ranking points.
