Alex Eala reacts immediately after beating Tereza Valentova to reach Hong Kong quarter-final, ‘I escaped a little bit’
Filipino tennis player Alex Eala advanced to the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals after a hard-fought victory against Tereza Valentova. Eala overcame a late-match comeback from her opponent to win in straight sets.
Why it matters
Eala's performance highlights her growth as a professional athlete and her ability to overcome previous head-to-head struggles against top-tier competitors.
Alex Eala defeated Tereza Valentova 6-4, 7-6, in the second round of the Hong Kong Open.
In what was described by commentator Mark Valledy as the 'match of the tournament', Eala battled through two tight sets to take down Valentova, who had won their first two career meetings.
Eala took a 5-0 lead in the second-set tiebreak before her Czech opponent worked her way back into the match. Valentova saved several match points, playing some simply remarkable tennis, until Eala finally finished the job 7-6 (9-7). During her post-match interview, the Filipina delivered her verdict on the match.
"It was so tough; it was really, really tough. I think Tereza [Valentova] played incredibly, and we were able to bring the match to a really high level. I think that was reflected on the scores, so I'm really happy with that win. I think I escaped a little bit," said Eala.
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