Alex Eala's stunning title run in Washington has the tennis world buzzing, and now former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski has weighed in with a detailed tactical breakdown of how opponents should approach the 21-year-old Filipino sensation.
Eala claimed the Mubadala Citi DC Open trophy after a remarkable comeback against Jessica Pegula, overcoming a rain delay that suspended play mid-match on Sunday before returning Monday to seal a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory. The win made her the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title and pushed her into the top 20 in the rankings for the first time.
On his podcast Off Court with Greg Rusedski, the former US Open finalist suggested that rivals should always make Eala serve first to apply early pressure on what he considers her most exploitable weakness. He pointed out that elite hard-court baseliners like Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina would be primed to step in and attack her second serve, where the true bounce amplifies any lack of pace or placement.
Rusedski did balance his critique with genuine admiration, noting that Eala's return game and baseline positioning are exceptional. Her ability to take the ball early and control court real estate, he said, makes her a genuinely difficult opponent for anyone on the tour.
The coach of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has even called her the most exciting player on the women's circuit, praising both her mentality and competitive instincts.
Rusedski believes the serve is fixable with dedicated off-season work, backing Eala to sharpen that area before the 2027 season arrives.
TennisDraw users made Eala a popular bracket pick throughout the Washington draw, and after this title run, it is easy to see why.
