Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski believes Alexandra Eala's greatest strength is not her shot-making, but the mindset that has fuelled her rapid rise on the WTA Tour.
The 21-year-old Filipina has enjoyed a breakthrough season, highlighted by a historic run to the fourth round at Wimbledon, where she stunned defending champion Iga Swiatek before eventually losing to Jasmine Paolini in three sets. The impressive grass-court campaign also included a WTA 125 title in Birmingham and a semi-final appearance in Berlin, lifting Eala to a career-high world No. 28.
Speaking about Eala's development, Rusedski praised the young star's mental approach, saying her ability to stay composed under pressure is what separates her from many of her peers.
Source: Sports Inquirer
He described Eala as tactically intelligent, highly competitive and someone who consistently finds solutions during matches. According to Rusedski, she has handled the growing expectations surrounding her career remarkably well while continuing to improve physically and develop more power in her game.
Rusedski believes Eala possesses all the qualities needed to become one of the world's best players, pointing to her movement, competitive spirit and mature decision-making on court. He said those attributes, combined with her steady development, make her a genuine contender to break into the WTA's top 10 in the future.
While praising Eala's overall game, Rusedski noted there is still room for improvement, particularly on her serve, which he believes could become an even bigger weapon with technical adjustments. Even so, he feels her mentality has been the biggest factor behind her success and is the foundation for an even brighter future.
