Alex Eala told she does something 'nobody else does' that could make her world No.1
One aspect of Alex Eala's game is something 'nobody else does' on the WTA Tour, according to former British men's number one Greg Rusedski.
Eala will be seeded 17th for the main draw of the US Open, which takes place once the qualifying rounds are completed later this week.
At last year's tournament, she became the first tennis player from the Philippines to win a main draw Grand Slam singles match, and her career has rapidly gone from strength to strength since then.
The 21-year-old won her maiden WTA 500 title at the Washington Open last month, defeating Jessica Pegula in the final.
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Ahead of the US Open, Eala has entered the mixed doubles event alongside Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime as part of her preparation for the final Grand Slam tournament of the 2026 season.
She also has a career-high ranking of world number 18, having been pushed up a position in the US Open seedings because of world number 15 Victoria Mboko's injury-enforced withdrawal.
Rick Macci, who formerly coached Serena and Venus Williams, explained on X (Twitter) that Eala's serve was the only part of her game that was preventing her from reaching the very upper echelons of the rankings.
But during her first-round win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the Cincinnati Open, it was noted on commentary that her serve was actually 'not easy to handle at all' or hardcourts or grasscourts as it 'just twirls and swirls around'.
"It might look easy on the TV screen but, in real life, a lot of players don't like to handle it," the co-commentator said.
Rusedski, who reached the final of the US Open men's singles in 1997, has said that the way the Filipina returns serves will also stand her in good stead.
"Eala, she takes the ball so early," Rusedski said on his podcast, Off Court With Greg Rusedski.
"So, you can talk in all the facets - I'm talking about players who are like 10 to 20 in the world. We always know that the best are the fastest because they have more time, more options.
"But she does something nobody else does. She takes this return of serve so, so early.
"I saw Rick Macci said, if you can get that serve technically good enough, she's going to be number one, because she's going to be able to get those first three strikes.
"My point is, between the ears for the people who are like 20 to one, and also a little bit of tools here and there. Like, look at a guy like [Alex] De Minaur, who maximises, lightning fast speeds. But the mentality is just second to none."
Eala names the most 'surreal' moment of her tennis rise
During her pre-tournament press conference in Cincinnati, where she would ultimately reach the third round before losing to world number 10 Amanda Anisimova, Eala was asked to pick out the 'most surreal' moment since her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier this year.
She said she could not choose between winning the title in Washington and defeating reigning champion Iga Swiatek on Wimbledon's Centre Court.
"It's very, very difficult to pick," she replied. "It would have to be between Wimbledon and Washington, of course.
"I think playing on Centre Court and winning in such fashion, against a great player, it is something I will never forget. It was my first win on Centre, so it was a crazy, crazy experience.
"And everyone says you'll never forget your first title. So it's kind of like my two babies that I want to pick!"
Ryan Smart