**🚨 BREAKING NEWS: WTA Tour releases official statement confirming immediate disciplinary action against Tereza Valentová, including temporary suspension, following allegations of cheating and unsportsmanlike conduct during her match against Alex Eala at Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2026.**

Doha, Qatar – February 16, 2026 – The WTA 500 Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2026 tournament became the focus of the most serious scandal ever on the WTA Tour when the organization officially issued a statement this afternoon, confirming the imposition of **immediate disciplinary action** against Czech tennis player Tereza Valentová (ranked 78th WTA), including **temporary suspension from competition ** pending the results of the full investigation. The reason was clearly stated in the announcement: **allegations of cheating and unsportsmanlike conduct** in the second round match against Alex Eala (Philippines, ranked 132) on February 12.

According to the WTA’s official announcement, signed by President and CEO Stacey Allaster:

**“After a thorough review of video evidence, reports from chair umpires, match supervisors and statements from both parties involved, the WTA confirms that it has initiated an urgent disciplinary process against Tereza Valentová. The charges include intentionally disrupting the pace of play, using unsportsmanlike tricks to psychologically influence opponents, and certain acts of suspected cheating involving the intentional alteration of marking positions ball mark in the deciding set.

To ensure the fairness and integrity of the tournament, Valentová is immediately suspended from all WTA activities until the independent investigation is completed and the final results will be announced as soon as possible.”**

The match between Valentová and Eala took place on secondary field No. 3 on the afternoon of February 12, with outdoor temperatures reaching 34°C. Eala led 6-4, 4-2 when Valentová suddenly asked to check the ball mark at a break point. The referee went down to the field to check and did not change the decision. However, television cameras later recorded Valentová – while the referee’s back was turned – using her foot to gently pull the ball mark out about 2–3 cm, causing the score to be changed in her favor.

This action was immediately discovered and complained by Eala and her coach. The chair referee, after reviewing the video, awarded a point to Eala, but did not impose any other penalty other than a warning.

Immediately after the match, the video of Valentová changing her ball mark went viral on TikTok, X and Instagram with millions of views. The hashtags #ValentovaCheat and #JusticeForEala quickly reached the top of global trends. A series of WTA players publicly spoke out in support of Eala, the most prominent of which are:

– **Aryna Sabalenka**: “Such behavior cannot be accepted on tour. The WTA must act strongly.”- **Iga Świątek**: “It is necessary to protect young players and be fair. This is not the spirit of sportsmanship.”- **Coco Gauff**: “Alex deserves respect. We cannot let such behavior continue.”

Qatar TotalEnergies Open organizers initially only fined Valentová 3,000 USD for “unsportsmanlike conduct” according to normal regulations. However, after the video spread and pressure from the community increased, the WTA intervened directly on the evening of February 14 and raised the handling level to **temporarily suspended indefinitely**, and opened an independent investigation by a three-member committee (a former Grand Slam referee, an international sports lawyer, and a representative from the WTA Athletes Board).

According to the WTA disciplinary regulations (WTA Rulebook 2026, Articles 8.05 & 8.07), cheating activities can lead to penalties ranging from 6 months to permanent suspension, fines of up to 1 million USD, and even the loss of ranking points. If the allegation of changing the ball mark is proven to be intentional, this will be the most serious cheating case on the WTA Tour since the 2017 Kristina Mladenovic incident (punished for intentionally throwing the ball into the audience) and could lead to the heaviest penalty in the history of the women’s tournament.

The response from Valentová and her team has so far been very limited. Her representative only issued a brief statement: **“We believe in a fair investigation process and will provide sufficient evidence to prove that Tereza’s behavior was unintentional and misunderstood.”** However, many experts believe that her failure to issue a public apology or clear explanation is making the situation worse.

For Alex Eala – a 20-year-old Filipino tennis player on the rise – this incident was a big shock. Eala posted an Instagram story on the evening of February 14: a black and white photo of herself on the court with a simple caption: **”Thank you all for the love and support. I just want to play tennis and be respected.”** Many other tennis players reposted this story with broken hearts and support symbols.

This incident also raises big questions about the competitive culture on the WTA Tour. In recent years, “gamesmanship” behaviors (psychological tricks) such as stalling for time, feigning injury, and provoking opponents have become more common, especially in high-pressure tournaments. Many people hope that the Valentová incident will be a “tipping point” for the WTA to tighten regulations and protect the spirit of fair play.

Currently, Tereza Valentová is banned from participating in all WTA tournaments until the investigation is completed – expected to last at least 6–8 weeks. Her scores and prize money at the Qatar Open (about $15,000) were frozen. If convicted of intentional cheating, she could face the heaviest penalty in WTA history: a suspension of 1–3 years or even permanently.

Meanwhile, Alex Eala continued his journey in Doha and reached the quarterfinals after defeating a qualifier. She refused to comment on the incident, only speaking briefly at the press conference: **”I came here to play tennis. I trust the WTA will handle it fairly.”**

This scandal not only shook the Qatar TotalEnergies Open but also raised a big question for the entire WTA Tour: How to protect the spirit of sportsmanship in a fiercely competitive environment? The answer will be shaped in the coming weeks – and may well change the way the WTA handles unsportsmanlike conduct forever.