Alex Eala is aiming for an even stronger campaign in 2027 following a breakout 2026 season that saw her capture her first WTA title at the Washington Open, reach the second week at Wimbledon, and break into the top 20.
Greg Rusedski Backs Eala for Top 10 in 2027
As reported by sports.yahoo.com, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski has praised the Filipina tennis star’s achievements this year and compared her to her idol, Maria Sharapova, while backing her to approach the top 10 next year if she improves her serve.
Speaking on his podcast, Rusedski noted that expectations can sometimes be too high while she continues building her game. “Once she gets that serve into play and starts holding more often, then she gets even more consistent results,” he said, highlighting her victories over world-class players in Washington and her historical runs at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Rusedski also addressed recent setbacks, including a second-round loss at the Ningbo Open to Diana Shnaider. He pointed out that losing to a player who reached the semifinals of the French Open is simply a minor bump in the road. “If her serve can go up 20%, she’s knocking on the door in the top 10,” Rusedski stated, adding that Eala serves as the top selling point for the WTA Tour due to her widespread popularity.
Comparing her work ethic to multiple-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, Rusedski noted that Eala successfully balances commercial and social media commitments while keeping tennis as her absolute top priority.
Tokyo Open Campaign and Live Rankings
Eala currently holds the world number 19 ranking, sitting just one spot away from her career-high, though she equals her career-best of world number 18 in the live rankings. A deep run at the Tokyo Open, where she recently made a comfortable start with a first-round win, could see her climb as high as world number 14.
Having two tournaments left to play in 2026, Eala prepares to face Talia Gibson in the Japanese capital, having won both of their previous encounters, though they have not met since 2023. A victory over Gibson could potentially set up a rematch against Diana Shnaider to seek revenge for her defeat in Ningbo.
In addition to her singles matches, Eala was scheduled to compete in the doubles tournament in Tokyo alongside partner Desirae Krawczyk, but Krawczyk withdrew prior to their opening match.
