A Costly Defeat in Ningbo
Alex Eala's run at the 2026 Ningbo Open came to an end in the second round on Thursday, as Diana Shnaider edged the Filipino star 7-5, 6-4 in a match that was far closer on paper than it felt by the final point. The real story was not the scoreline but the alarming fragility of Eala's serve throughout the contest. She was broken in six of her 11 service games, including four times in the second set alone, and won just 49 percent of points on her own delivery. Her first-serve win rate sat at a troubling 51 percent, while her second-serve numbers were even worse at 47 percent. Eala had looked sharp in the first round, dismissing Diane Parry 6-3, 6-1, but those serve problems ultimately proved decisive when she faced a higher-caliber opponent in Shnaider.
Macci's Prescription for Change
The defeat has renewed calls from prominent voices for Eala's team to address what they see as the most glaring flaw in her game. Rick Macci, the celebrated American coach who worked with both Serena and Venus Williams, took to social media with a detailed and pointed critique. He argued that Eala's serve issues run deeper than surface-level fixes like ball toss or leg drive, and that the problem begins at racket entry, which he described as fundamentally misaligned. Macci called for a complete biomechanical rebuild during the off-season, using what he described as a science-based, frame-by-frame approach. He framed the potential transformation in colorful terms, saying the right decision from her team could entirely change the trajectory of her career. Eala heads to Tokyo next week for the Pan Pacific Open, where she opens against British wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic. TennisDraw users will be watching her serve closely in Tokyo as bracket picks hinge on whether she can stay sharp through the early rounds.
