Alexandra Eala and Jannik Sinner have both now won the Washington Open titles in their careers.
Eala beat Jessica Pegula to win her first ever main tour title in Washington D.C., the same tournament Sinner won in 2021.
There has been a huge reaction to this victory, which has included Rafael Nadal sending a message to Eala on social media.
The reaction to Eala’s Washington Open win has continued, as she has even been praised for having the same strength as five-time Grand Slam champion and world number one Sinner.
Alexandra Eala compared to Jannik Sinner for her mentality
Eala’s Washington Open triumph was discussed on the latest edition of The Big T Podcast by former top 10 player Andrea Petkovic.
Petkovic was full of praise for Eala’s mentality in particular, which she revealed reminded her of Sinner.
How do you rate Alex Eala’s chances of winning the US Open title this year?
Eala has just won her first WTA Tour title at the Washington Open!
“It is fascinating to watch her,” said Petkovic. “I really think that the fact she is so emotionally stable, I think she can handle anything. That’s how it seems right now.
“Of course there will be ups and downs and she will have times where she plays better and times when she plays not as great, but I feel she has that inner strength where she can withstand anything.
“To be honest it reminds me of Jannik Sinner in a different way, but these kind of personalities are really made for tennis.
“If you are very much up and down, tennis will wear you down and it will exhaust you and you will hit the wall at one point.
“But these players who don’t seem to get too high or too low when things are going really great or really badly, they just seem to be very stable in what they want and who they are, they seem to have a certain kind of longevity on Tour that others can’t find and she strikes me like that type.
“Obviously there is a lot going on around her, but I am hoping that people give her the time to evolve and develop but it seems to me that she has all it takes to have longevity on Tour.”
Andrea Petkovic names the Grand Slam she thinks Alexandra Eala can win
Eala is now a top 20 player, but she is yet to reach the quarter-finals of any Grand Slam tournament.
The Filipina’s best major result came at Wimbledon this year, where Eala reached the fourth round, and Petkovic believes that this is where she can win a Grand Slam title.
“I think so. I think she can win Wimbledon to be honest,” answered Petkovic. “I think if I had to bank on something I would say that I think she can win Wimbledon first.
“I think clay is going to be the toughest one for her, although she has practiced on clay all her life in Spain. I would not put it past her to win at Wimbledon, I think that is going to be the first one for her.”
Which Grand Slam event is Alexandra Eala most likely to win? 🤔
Eala will have to wait nearly a year for her next shot at winning Wimbledon, with her next Grand Slam tournament at the US Open.
The 21-year-old will continue her preparations for the US Open in Toronto, where Eala will play Alycia Parks in her opening match.
