Valentova reaches Saint-Malo final in latest step of a rapid rise
Valentova (No 1) beat Blinkova (No 5) 6-3, 6-2 and faces Uchijima in Sunday’s final. The 19-year-old Czech is a French Open junior champion, a former tour-level finalist, and in no apparent hurry to slow down.
Tereza Valentová, 2026 | © Open Saint-Malo
Tereza Valentova, the top seed, beat Russian Anna Blinkova, the No 5 seed, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final of the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo on Saturday, a WTA 125 event that has given the 19-year-old Czech another stage to demonstrate how quickly she is moving.
Valentova, ranked No 51, was in control throughout, dropping only six games against Blinkova having earlier beaten Sloane Stephens and Claire Liu without ever being seriously troubled. The win was her fourth of the week at a tournament that suits her aggressive baseline game.
A French Open junior champion in 2024, winning both the singles and doubles title, Valentova announced herself at tour level last year by reaching her first WTA final in Osaka as a qualifier before losing to Leylah Fernandez.
She faces Japanese Moyuka Uchijima, the No 7 seed, in Sunday’s final.
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