Alexandra Eala Receives Serve Advice From Greg Rusedski
Rising star Alex Eala's serve has drawn criticism from John McEnroe, while Greg Rusedski offers constructive technical advice ahead of her Asian swing.
Alexandra Eala, the 21-year-old Filipino ranked 18th in the world, has received candid advice on her serve from former Grand Slam finalist Greg Rusedski. Her breakthrough 2026 season, featuring a maiden WTA title in Washington and a run to the Wimbledon last-16, has placed her under increased scrutiny from tennis legends.
Eala has emerged as a top-20 player with a maiden WTA title and strong results including a Wimbledon last-16 run. She is on course to finish 2026 in the top 20. Her impressive form since June includes a win at the WTA 125 event in Birmingham and a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. She has a large and passionate fanbase at every tournament, with John McEnroe comparing her popularity and impact to that of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. He noted she oozes personality and competitiveness.
Serve criticism and expert feedback
Tennis legend John McEnroe has identified Eala's serve as her primary limitation. He stated on a podcast that despite improvement, her serve remains a liability that prevents her from reaching an A+ level, even while praising her strong movement and athleticism. In contrast, former British number one Greg Rusedski disagreed, calling her serve not that bad and highlighting her left-handed advantage. Rusedski, a 1997 US Open finalist once known for the fastest serve in tennis, believes Eala is currently the best return-of-serve player in the women's game.
Rusedski argued that many breaks of serve occur on tour, especially in the women's game, and that Eala's recent defeats have all come in matches with multiple breaks. He emphasized that top players succeed because they top the list of service holds, citing world number one and US Open champion Elena Rybakina as the player with the best serve. Rusedski demonstrated on his YouTube channel that Eala could improve her serve with technical adjustments. He suggested a shift in her service stance and tweaking the skip in her motion for more stability. Dragging the foot through could create a stronger platform, and tilting her shoulders more prominently before striking the ball could generate more power. He stated she has the work ethic and belief to improve, noting that a better serve makes a huge difference. The off-season, a period of six weeks to a month, is key for maximizing these improvements.
Eala's development pathway
With key tournaments ahead and no WTA Finals commitment, Eala has dedicated off-season time to refine her serve. Her upcoming schedule includes several events in Asia.
She skipped the recent China Open in Beijing, where top players like Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff participated. Not qualifying for the WTA Finals gives her an extended period to work on her game. Rusedski encouraged her, noting she is still young and that everyone has areas to work on, usually between the ears. He feels her ground shots are fantastic and her battling qualities are evident. Eala's participation begins at the Wuhan Open next week.
