Newly minted world No. 40 Alex Eala couldn’t solve the puzzle of Tereza Valentova of the Czech Republic, 6-7, 1-6, as she bombed out of the Round of 64 of the Qatar Open on Monday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.

It was Eala's second loss to the 18-year-old Czech, who is ranked No. 48, since her 1-6, 2-6 heartbreak at the Japan Open last October.

Valentova, 18, fought for one hour and 32 minutes as she won her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 main draw match of her career.

“It was a really challenging match. I prepared well for it, and I think I did a pretty good job out there,” Valentova said.

“I was just enjoying every moment. Playing here was amazing.”

Eala will now shift her focus on the Dubai Tennis Championships on 15 February at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in the United Arab Emirates.

It will be the Rafael Nadal Academy alumna’s last stop in the Middle East before flying to the United States for the BNP Paribas Open on March in the United States.