Rennae Stubbs, who worked alongside Serena Williams during her final US Open appearance in 2022 and has been part of her recent comeback team, has delivered a candid assessment of two of the WTA Tour's hottest rising stars, and her conclusions could not be more different.
Speaking on her own podcast, Stubbs argued that Alex Eala's serve is the central obstacle preventing the Filipina from ever winning a major title. "Eala's serve will never win her a Grand Slam," Stubbs stated bluntly, drawing a comparison to Jessica Pegula, whose second serve she also identified as a vulnerability against hard-hitting opponents. While Stubbs acknowledged the Angelique Kerber counter-argument, she maintained her position that the serve remains a critical barrier for Eala.
The assessment comes at an interesting moment. Eala has been remarkably consistent this year, collecting six wins over Top 10 opponents, and just three weeks ago became the first Philippine player to reach the second week of a Grand Slam after making the Wimbledon last 16.
For Victoria Mboko, Stubbs painted a far brighter long-term picture. The Canadian teenager won the WTA 1000 title in Montreal last season, famously defeating four Grand Slam champions during that run. Stubbs praised her audacity and mental composure, noting that her confidence sets her apart from many peers. She did acknowledge areas for improvement, including both her serve and forehand mechanics, but believes Mboko's fearless mentality is the foundation of a future major champion.
Unfortunately, Mboko is currently sidelined with a medial collateral ligament injury sustained at Queen's Club, forcing her to withdraw from Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and the US Open.
TennisDraw users will want to keep both names firmly on their radar when bracket season returns.
