Alex Eala's Serve Hinders US Open Success Potential

Alex Eala's serve has been pinpointed as the primary technical barrier preventing her from reaching the top tier of women's tennis, as noted by coach Rick Macci, who has previously coached Serena and Venus Williams. Macci stated that if Eala improves her serve, she could contend for the world No. 1 ranking.

However, her serve has proven deceptive in practice, making it challenging for opponents to return. Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski praised Eala's return of serve, highlighting her ability to make early contact, which is crucial for competing against top-ranked players.

Eala heads into the US Open as the 17th seed, achieving a career-high ranking of world No. 18, aided by the withdrawal of Victoria Mboko due to injury, which elevated her seeding position.