Czech Republic’s Tereza Valentova hits a shot against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina during their girls’s singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis match in Melbourne on January 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Crock / AFP via Getty Images) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — Getty
HONG KONG, CHINA – NOVEMBER 3: Emerson Jones of Australia in motion during the girls’s singles spherical of 32 match against Alexandra Eala of Philippines on day two of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on November 3, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Getty Images) Getty
Alex Eala had ready for one opponent on Tuesday. She ended up going through another. Now, her path toward a attainable Hong Kong Open title takes her into acquainted, uncomfortable territory.
The second-seeded Filipina overcame a last-minute change to defeat Australia’s Emerson Jones, 6-4, 6-3, advancing to the spherical of 16 at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.
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Next comes Tereza Valentova, a 19-year-old Czech who has overwhelmed Eala twice without dropping a set.
Their rematch is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium, giving Eala an alternative to reverse a troubling head-to-head file in her ultimate match of the season.
Alex Eala to Face Tereza Valentova in Hong Kong Open Round of 16
Getty Czech Republic’s Tereza Valentova hits a shot against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina during their girls’s singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis match in Melbourne on January 24, 2026.
Valentova superior Tuesday with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Japanese qualifier Himeno Sakatsume.
Ranked No. 85 in the world, the Czech enters Thursday’s assembly with a 2-0 profession benefit over Eala.
Their first encounter came at the Japan Open in Osaka in October 2025, when Valentova cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
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Four months later, Valentova prevailed again at the Qatar Open in Doha, successful 7-6 (6), 6-1.
Eala enters their third assembly with significantly more momentum.
The 21-year-old climbed to a career-high world rating of No. 17 this week after reaching the Tokyo quarterfinals, changing into the highest-ranked Filipino singles participant in WTA historical past.
She also holds the No. 2 seed in Hong Kong, behind top-seeded Sorana Cirstea.
A victory Thursday would ship Eala into the quarterfinals, retaining alive her pursuit of another title to close her breakthrough season.
When Does Alex Eala Play Next at Hong Kong Open?
Eala and Valentova are scheduled to meet Thursday, Nov. 5, in the second spherical.
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The match’s afternoon session begins at 2 p.m. Hong Kong time, which is also 2 p.m. in the Philippines and 1 a.m. Wednesday night time into Thursday in the United States’ Eastern time zone.
However, the precise begin of their match stays subject to the ultimate order of play and previous matches.
The winner will advance to Friday’s quarterfinals, with the championship match scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8.
Alex Eala Overcomes Alycia Parks Withdrawal to Beat Emerson Jones
GettyEmerson Jones of Australia in motion during the girls’s singles spherical of 32 match against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines on day two of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on November 3, 2026 in Hong Kong, China.
Eala’s opening-round victory came after an uncommon interruption.
She had been making ready to face American Alycia Parks, but Parks withdrew with a proper shoulder harm shortly before their scheduled match.
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Jones, an 18-year-old Australian ranked No. 132, entered the draw as a fortunate loser from qualifying.
Eala nevertheless made a commanding begin, racing to a 4-0 benefit before Jones won three consecutive video games.
The Filipina regained control to take the opening set, 6-4.
She then surged forward 5-1 in the second set before closing out the match in one hour, 23 minutes.
“I’m definitely not used to my opponent changing that late,” Eala said afterward. “It was just a new experience.”
The late adjustment hardly dampened her enthusiasm for enjoying before Hong Kong’s giant Filipino neighborhood.
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Eala has described the match as feeling close to home, a becoming setting for the conclusion of a outstanding season.
But Thursday brings a more troublesome project.
Against Valentova, Eala will not have the benefit of unfamiliarity. She knows precisely what awaits her — and has two earlier defeats to remind her.
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