Alex Eala's hot streak has the tennis world buzzing, and for good reason. The 21-year-old Filipina sensation has now won 10 of her last 11 matches, a run that began with a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon and culminated in her historic first WTA title at the Washington Open. Along the way, she defeated names like Zheng Qinwen, Naomi Osaka, Jessica Pegula, and Elina Svitolina, before backing it all up with straight-set wins over Alycia Parks and Caty McNally in Toronto.
Despite the remarkable results, legendary coach Rick Macci, famous for his work with Serena Williams among others, has identified a specific technical flaw in Eala's serve that he believes is capping her ceiling. Writing on X, Macci pointed to the timing of her leg drive as the core problem, noting that the racquet enters the back too early, before the legs generate any meaningful force. He also flagged an issue with her pinpoint stance, arguing that the position of her back foot causes an early over-rotation that robs her of explosive power.
Macci was enthusiastic about the potential upside, though. He suggested that a proper biomechanical rebuild could unlock a 115 mph serve from the left-handed Eala, which would make her offensive game nearly impossible to handle. He used colorful language about a "number one takeover" if the changes are ever fully implemented.
Danielle Collins, speaking on Tennis Channel Live, offered a different but equally glowing perspective, praising Eala's authenticity and the way she connects with fans and handles the enormous pressures of sudden stardom. Former ATP player Steve Johnson echoed those sentiments, highlighting how gracefully Eala is managing the spotlight at such a young age.
Eala faces Belinda Bencic next in Toronto, with a quarterfinal spot on the line. TennisDraw users have been heavily backing Eala as one of the tournament's breakout picks this week.
