Alex Eala says she does something unique that might help her become world No.1.
One part of Alex Eala’s game is something “nobody else does” on the WTA Tour, says former British men’s number one Greg Rusedski.
Eala will be seeded 17th for the main draw of the US Open, which starts once the qualifying rounds finish later this week. Last year, she made history as the first tennis player from the Philippines to win a main draw Grand Slam singles match. Since then, she has been improving fast.
The 21-year-old won her first WTA 500 title at the Washington Open last month, beating Jessica Pegula in the final. Before the US Open, Eala also signed up for the mixed doubles event with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime to prepare for the last Grand Slam of the 2026 season.
She now has a career-high ranking of world number 18, moving up a spot because Victoria Mboko, ranked 15th, had to withdraw due to injury.
Rick Macci, who coached Serena and Venus Williams, once said on X (Twitter) that Eala’s serve was the only thing stopping her from reaching the very top of the rankings. But during her first-round win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the Cincinnati Open, commentators noticed her serve is actually “not easy to handle” on hard or grass courts because it “twirls and swirls.”
“It might look easy on TV, but many players find it tough to deal with,” said one co-commentator.
Rusedski, who was a US Open men’s singles finalist in 1997, also praised how Eala returns serves, saying it will help her a lot.
“Eala takes the ball so early,” Rusedski said on his podcast, Off Court With Greg Rusedski. “Among players ranked 10 to 20 in the world, the fastest players do the best because they get more time and options. But she does something unique by returning serves so early.
“Rick Macci said if she can improve her serve technically, she could be number one because she would be able to set up her first shots perfectly.
“My point is, for those ranked 20th to number one, having the right mindset and some special skills like hers is key. Look at players like Alex De Minaur who uses lightning-fast speed combined with strong mental focus.”
At her press conference before the Cincinnati tournament — where she made it to the third round before losing to world number 10 Amanda Anisimova — Eala was asked about the most unforgettable moment since her run to Wimbledon’s fourth round earlier this year.
She couldn’t choose between winning the Washington title and beating reigning champion Iga Swiatek on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
“It’s really hard to pick,” she said. “It has to be between Wimbledon and Washington.
“Playing on Centre Court and winning against such a great player was something I’ll always remember. It was my first win on Centre Court, so it was an amazing experience.
“And everyone says you’ll never forget your first title, so those two moments feel like my ‘babies’ that I really want to cherish!”