Alex Eala's whirlwind summer has tennis fans buzzing and pundits talking, but former world No. 4 Greg Rusedski is not losing any sleep over whether the 21-year-old is overextending herself before the US Open.
Eala played eight matches between July 28 and August 10, winning the Washington Open title and advancing to the fourth round at the Canadian Open in Montreal. Those results came as part of a staggering 2026 campaign that has already seen her compete in 56 matches across 21 tournaments on the WTA Tour and lower-tier circuits.
On his Off Court podcast, Rusedski dismissed any talk of fatigue heading into the final Grand Slam of the season. "No, no chance of that happening," said the 1997 US Open finalist, pointing out that winning a major requires seven consecutive victories, something Eala has already demonstrated she can handle. He also highlighted her physical conditioning and mental strength, noting that younger players recover more quickly than veterans.
Rusedski was equally enthusiastic about the reception Eala received in Toronto, describing her opening-match speech to the crowd as "electrifying." He compared the cultural impact of her rise to that of Gustavo Kuerten's dominance in Brazil, where winning the French Open three times made Kuerten as celebrated as any footballer in the country. Rusedski believes "Eala-mania" is an entirely different phenomenon, given the Philippines' limited tennis history.
Eala will compete in Cincinnati before taking a week off to prepare for the US Open, following the same routine as the sport's biggest names. With Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff also in the Cincinnati draw, the hard-court swing is shaping up to be compelling. TennisDraw users will want to keep a close eye on Eala's bracket position as she heads into New York full of momentum.
