Greg Rusedski claims Alex Eala is already the best in the world in one area after watching her win again at US Open

Who wins this blockbuster US Open third round match: Alex Eala or Iva Jovic?

Watching her win again, Greg Rusedski made a bold claim about Eala’s tennis.

Greg Rusedski thinks Alex Eala may already be the ‘best return of serve player in the world’

During the latest episode of his podcast, Rusedski assessed Eala’s return of serve.

“She’s technically so sound. She obviously has an incredible vision, reads her opponent’s serves and patterns exceptionally well, standing in on the court,” he said.

“If you look at her techniques, they’re very simple: straight back, straight through, so that allows her to take the ball very early. And that’s something you can see she’s practised from a very young age.

“For me, she’s probably the best return-of-serve player in the world at the moment. The way she can take it so early, take your time away, doesn’t matter if she’s facing a big server or someone who is serving slow; she’s willing to step in.”

Rusedski believes Eala is the best returner in women’s tennis, but do the statistics agree?

In short, no, they don’t.

Eala doesn’t rank inside the top 50 for any of the five main return metrics this year.

Alex Eala’s return stats (2026)

• % of return points won against a first serve – 36.8% (100th on WTA Tour)
• % of return points won against a second serve – 56.8% (67th on WTA Tour)
• % of return games won – 37% (75th on WTA Tour)
• % of break point chances converted – 42.5% (173rd on WTA Tour)
• % of all return points won – 44.5% (73rd on WTA Tour)

However, Rusedski did say ‘right now’, and anybody who’s followed Eala this year will tell you just how much she’s improved recently.

But even so, suggesting she is already the best in the world may be a step too far.

Rusedski also mentioned Eala’s serve, which, like her return, has improved significantly in 2026.

“I think she’s getting in the throwing position a little bit better. You’ve got to think of the serve as if you’re throwing a ball. You don’t want that shoulder too high; you’ve got to get that tilt, you’ve got to hit up, get that good leg drive, and put those combinations with the right timing and the right sequence and order,” he said.

“She’s doing that a lot better now; she’s getting more pop, more rotation, more spin.

“And also, being a lefty, it’s a huge advantage because you can use the slice, you can use the flat one, you can use the kick. You don’t see too many lefties on tour. She’s gradually getting more speed, more rotation, more placement. She continues to work on it, and it’s only going to get better in time, the more she develops, the more she practices, and she knows that it is an area she needs to get better in.

“As she says in her press conferences, ‘I need to continually improve to go where I want to go’. That’s what I love about her, just simplicity, keep it simple, do what you have to do, and just improve every day, and that’s what she’s doing with her team.”

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Rusedski then compared Eala to Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal.

“When I watch her, she reminds me a little bit of Rafael Nadal, the intensity she has on the court,” he said.

“And you look at her positioning with her body; she’s always at the same level with her height when she moves from the back of the court, reminiscent of the intensity of Rafa, but the level of the height with the bending of the knees like Jannik Sinner.

“So it’s a brilliant combination she has, and the mindset is second to none.”

Greg Rusedski shares what he really liked about Alex Eala’s second-round win at the US Open

The 1997 US Open finalist also gave his verdict on Eala’s second-round win over Oliynykova.

“When you have someone who uses the slice forehand, the variety with the loop, it pushes you back and forth on the court,” said Rusedski.

“What I liked about Eala is that she stood her ground.

Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova – Match stats

“That opening set was picture perfect, 6-1, couldn’t have played any better.

“Then it got a little tricky in the second, but she found a way to close it out, 6-4.

“With Eala, what is so good is the use of the angles.

“The backhand short angle we see is absolutely brilliant; her movement has gotten better, her strike has gotten better because she looks physically stronger, and the serve has a little more pop in it as well; she’s just growing as a player, physically, mentally and emotionally.”

Eala will return to action on Saturday, September 5, to take on her close friend Iva Jovic for a spot in the last 16.