Alex Eala is on a tear, and the tennis world is taking notice. The 21-year-old Filipino star has now reeled off seven consecutive victories, most recently defeating Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the third round of the National Bank Open in Toronto. That run follows a stunning five-match surge that earned Eala her first WTA title at the WTA 500 event in Washington DC just days earlier.
The momentum has sent her ranking skyrocketing to a career-high of world No. 20, with her Live WTA Ranking climbing as high as 14th after her two Toronto wins. And now, one of the most respected coaches in the sport is weighing in on just how far she can go.
Rick Macci, famous for his work developing Serena and Venus Williams among other champions, posted a detailed assessment of Eala's game on social media. His verdict was largely glowing. He praised her movement as the key differentiator, calling it "the X factor on the road to the mountain top," and highlighted her ability to hug the baseline, control rallies, and produce sharp angles under pressure. His conclusion: a top-5 ranking is coming.
But Macci was equally candid about a weakness. He argued that Eala's serve requires what he dramatically called "reconstructive surgery" to become a genuine weapon. In his view, solving that technical puzzle would transform her from a dangerous player into a near-unstoppable one, and he has even floated the idea that she could someday reach world No. 1.
Eala's left-handed ball striking and elite baseline game are already turning heads across the tour. On TennisDraw, she has quickly become one of the most selected players in users' bracket predictions for the Toronto draw.
