Alex Eala’s worst nightmare is here again. The Filipina tennis star carries a woeful 0-12 record against Czech opponents in matches played on the ITF and WTA Tour heading into Monday’s Round of 16 clash against Karolina Muchova on Grandstand Court at the 2026 Miami Open.

 

Here’s a recap of the Czech players who have given Eala problems on the ITF and WTA Tour. 

 

 

Eala’s difficulties against Czech opponents first started against Zarycka at the ITF Grand Canaria tournament on November 24, 2020, losing 2-6, 4-6 in their Round of 32 showdown.

 

 

 

Eala’s Czech struggles continued against Martincova at the ITF Slovakia event on March 6, 2024, with the Quezon City native losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 in their Round of 32 clash.

 

 

Eala’s first WTA Tour loss against a Czech player happened at the 2024 Guadalajara Open, with the Filipina suffering a heavy 2-6, 2-6 defeat at the hands of sixth seed Bouzkova in their Round of 32 matchup at Akron Tennis Stadium.

 

 

 

Eala lost badly when she faced Siniakova at the 2024 Wuhan Open, absorbing a 3-6, 1-6 defeat in their Round of 64 showdown on October 8, 2024.

 

 

Eala locked horns with Bouzkova for the second time on the WTA Tour at the 2024 Jiangxi Open. It was a much closer affair compared to their first encounter in Mexico, with Eala losing 5-7, 6-7 to the top-seeded Czech in their Round of 32 matchup on October 28, 2024.

 

 

The third-seeded Eala made an early exit at the 2025 Birmingham Open, losing 5-7, 7-6, 1-6 to unseeded Fruhvirtova in the Round of 32 of that grass-court event.

 

 

The Filipina star made her Wimbledon debut on Centre Court on July 1, 2025, when she squared off against defending champion Krejcikova in the first round of that Grand Slam event. She sent Filipino fans into a frenzy after she took the first set 6-3. Eala failed to complete the upset victory, though, losing the next two sets, 2-6, 1-6, to bow out of the prestigious grass court tournament.

 

 

 

Eala’s Czech woes continued at last year’s Canadian Open, losing in the first round to Vondrousova by a score of 6-3, 1-6, 2-6. 

 

 

Eala fell to Valentova during their Round of 32 showdown at the 2025 Japan Open, losing 1-6, 2-6 to the Czech teen in Osaka.

 

 

 

Eala’s losing streak against Czech opponents stretched to 10 matches when she suffered a straight-sets defeat against Alexandrova (3-6, 3-6) in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open last February.

 

 

Valentova continued her dominance against Eala, ousting the Filipina in the first round of an event for the second consecutive time at the 2026 Qatar Open. Valentova cruised to victory against Eala after a tough opening set, recording a 7-6, 6-1 win.

 

Linda Noskova (2026 BNP Paribas Open) 

 

 

Eala’s winless run against Czech players extended to a dozen matches when she faced Linda Noskova at Indian Wells earlier this month. Eala looked out of sorts in that contest, losing 2-6, 0-6 in the round of 16 of the BNP Paribas Open.

 

Can Eala finally break the curse and win her first-ever WTA match against a Czech opponent tonight vs Muchova? We’ll soon find out.