Alex Eala Compared To Rafael Nadal & Jannik Sinner As Analyst Calls Her "Future Of WTA"
Tennis analyst Greg Rusedski has praised Filipino player Alexandra Eala, comparing her intensity to Rafael Nadal and her technical movement to Jannik Sinner. Eala recently became the first Filipino to reach the WTA Top 20, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Why it matters
Eala's rapid rise represents a significant breakthrough for Southeast Asian representation in professional tennis.
Alexandra Eala was the first Filipino to make it into the Top 20 of the WTA this year. However, her impact is much bigger. So much so that now an ex-Grand Slam finalist is picking her over some of the greatest players of all time.
Greg Rusedski, the former US Open runner-up turned tennis analyst, analyzed Eala's playafter her second-round victory in the 2026 US Open tournament.
"When I watch her, she reminds me a little bit of Rafael Nadal, the intensity she has on the court," Rusedski said on his podcast, Off Court With Greg Rusedski .
This connection can be traced back to her childhood. At age 12, Eala left for Spain to join the Rafa Nadal Academy located in Mallorca, which helped form the intensity that Rusedski saw many years later.
Alexandra Eala's rise through the ranks is worth following closely. Subscribe for more interesting stories.
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