Alex Eala will be hoping to climb back up the WTA rankings when she plays at the Linz Open next week.
The Filipina has enjoyed a superb campaign thus far, defeating the likes of Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini.
What is the best win of Alexandra Eala’s career so far? 🤔
Iga Swiatek in Miami, Clara Tauson at the US Open, Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, or a different match?
However, her progress was halted last week when she was demolished by Karolina Muchova in the Miami Open fourth round.
As a result, the Filipina fell 16 places to world number 45.
If Eala hopes to continue her march up the WTA rankings, she will most certainly need to improve some areas of her game.
Andrea Petkovic says Alex Eala must improve her serve in order to reach the WTA top 10
Andrea Petkovic, the former world number nine, discussed the recent development of Eala’s game while in conversation with former top 20 player Alison Riske-Amritraj.
The pair, speaking on the Big T Podcast, both identified Eala’s serve as a problem area.
“I think it’s one thing and unfortunately it’s a big thing: the serve,” said Petkovic [pictured below]. “We have seen what she can do when she has a good serving week, which was in Dubai for example.
“She served over 60 per cent first serves and was hitting her spots, and then she can basically do anything because she can beat anybody, she takes the ball so early and returns amazingly.
“But in the year and a half that I have watched her now, her serve is very inconsistent. She has those weeks where she can’t make first serves and the second is very attackable.
“Against the big hitters like Sabalenka, Rybakina and even Coco Gauff, who returns so well, it is going to be really difficult to defend your serve, despite her being one of the best returners in the game.
“I think that is the one thing and then the sky has no limit.
Riske-Amritraj continued the discussion, saying: “I agree on the serve, I have to add as well, I think just being more physical.
“I think as she continues to get stronger, just get more physical and being able to put more behind her balls.
“I think if you are going to contend with these best players in the world, whether it’s Jess Pegula, who has extreme placement on her shots with pace, or the bigger hitters, you are going to have to put more on the ball.
“I think right now when she goes up against those players there is not enough behind that ball. I do not doubt she will get there but it will be a work in progress.”
Both Petkovic and Riske-Amritraj are spot on in their analysis of Eala’s game.
What does Alexandra Eala need to improve in 2026 to challenge for a Grand Slam title?
The serve is the most important shot in tennis, and with Eala’s serve currently below par, she will struggle to break through at the top level.
However, if the 20-year-old can improve her serve, there is no reason why she cannot become a top 10 player in the future.
We have seen top players struggle on serve before turning the shot into a weapon – as demonstrated by Aryna Sabalenka, who now has one of the best serves on Tour despite early struggles.
Alex Eala’s below par serve accentuates other areas of her game
While Eala’s serve is certainly a weakness, this underwhelming aspect of her game highlights just how impressive the rest of her game is.
Eala is still able to compete with the very best on Tour, despite her below par serve: as demonstrated by her victories against Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Madison Keys over the past year.
Of course, in an ideal world, Eala’s serve would be a potent force; and unless she improves the shot to an adequate standard, she may struggle to contend for major titles in the future.
Eala will be able to showcase her ability at the Linz Open next week, where she will compete against the likes of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Katie Boulter for the title.
Eala will be making her debut at the event, which starts on April 6.