Roddick Backs Alex Eala for Top 10 After 21-Year-Old Wins First WTA Title

2 articles · Updated · Tennishead · Aug 4

Andy Roddick said Alex Eala is "the real deal" after the 21-year-old won the Washington Open, arguing her week-to-week consistency now looks like that of a future top-10 player.
Washington delivered Eala's first WTA title and a career-high rise to world No. 20 after she beat Jessica Pegula, making her the first player from the Philippines to win the event.
Roddick said Eala's ability to redirect pace, switch directions and challenge top opponents without fear makes her a difficult early-round draw and explains why her breakthrough no longer looks like a one-off.
2,106 ranking points still leave Eala well behind current No. 10 Amanda Anisimova on 4,353, but Eala has only 369 points to defend through the rest of 2026 versus Anisimova's 2,855.
In the 2026 WTA Finals race, Eala sits 14th and 506 points behind 10th-placed Victoria Mboko as she heads to Toronto to face Alycia Parks in the Canadian Open.