Alexandra “Alex” Eala has had a remarkable Wimbledon run, but tennis greats believe she has one untapped armory left that could take her to greater heights: her service game.
Former world champions and tennis legends note that all Slam winners have mastered the art and science of serving, and Eala's serve is seen as a key area for improvement.
Martina Navratilova, a 69-year-old legend with 18 Grand Slam singles titles, served as an analyst for Wimbledon and observed Eala's great footwork and speed, as well as her ability to counterattack and finish. However, she noted that Eala's serves, particularly as a lefty, have not been maximized yet.
Navratilova advised Eala to change her grip and use her left-handedness more, suggesting that she was not slicing her serves effectively.
Greg Rusedski, a former No. 1 British player and 15-time ATP champion, echoed Navratilova's advice, emphasizing the need for Eala to develop a more powerful and accurate serve to gain an early advantage.
Rusedski praised Eala's potential and believes she has the knowledge to mix up her serves, but needs to work on increasing her power and accuracy.
Despite falling short in the Round of 16, Eala has made history as the first Filipina to reach the third and fourth rounds of a major, and the first seeded player in Grand Slam history from the Philippines.
With her strong grass-court buildup and impressive performances, including an upset of reigning champion Iga Swiatek, Eala is expected to continue rising in the world of tennis, and some believe Wimbledon could be the specific Slam where she finally wins her first title.
Rusedski sees Eala as a great competitor with excellent returns and groundstrokes, and believes she has a bright future ahead, potentially following in the footsteps of Spanish legend Rafael Nadal.
