Alex Eala is arguably the biggest draw in women’s tennis.
The Filipina attracts 1000s of fans wherever she goes, and her stock continues to rise as her results improve.
How far does Alex Eala reach in Cincinnati? 🎾
Former Grand Slam champion Madison Keys has now delivered her verdict on Eala.
Madison Keys says it’s ‘crazy to see’ stadiums filled for Alex Eala around the world
During the latest episode of ‘The Player’s Box Podcast‘, Jennifer Brady and Madison Keys shared their thoughts on Eala, after watching her beat their co-host, Jessica Pegula, in the Washington Open final.
“Sorry, Jess [Pegula], but we gained a lot of Filipino fans!” said Brady.
“We were all like, sorry you lost, but it could be worse!” added Keys.
“It’s so crazy to see that everywhere Alex [Eala] goes, she has a full stadium, literally everywhere we ever play.
“It is so cool to watch her become this massive star.
“It’s so cool!”
Eala’s popularity isn’t just seen in person but online too.
The 21-year-old already has more Instagram followers than the majority of the WTA top 10.
WTA Top 10 and their Instagram followers + Alex Eala
- #1. Aryna Sabalenka – 5.5 million
- #2. Elena Rybakina – 926,000
- #3. Jessica Pegula – 392,000
- #4. Coco Gauff – 2.4 million
- #5. Mirra Andreeva – 710,000
- #6. Karolina Muchova – 298,000
- #7. Linda Noskova – 133,000
- #8. Iga Swiatek – 2.3 million
- #9. Elina Svitolina – 1.8 million
- #10. Amanda Anisimova – 507,000
- #20. Alex Eala – 1.7 million
After the Washington Open final, Eala’s fans flocked to ‘The Player’s Box Podcast’, subscribing to the channel run by Pegula, Keys, Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk.
Pegula has now shared her thoughts on the final, which was finished on Monday after a lengthy rain delay.
2026 Washington Open final – Match stats
| Stats | Alexandra Eala | Jessica Pegula |
| Aces | 0 | 4 |
| Double faults | 3 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 63% | 65% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 86% | 57% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 48% | 58% |
| Break points | 5/9 | 2/3 |
“The weather was just so bad we knew probably that there was no chance we were going to play, and then we realised the men still had to play their final, so us coming back was not as big a deal as they had to play the men’s final the next day,” she said.
“I think that made it easier, but I know the tournament was obviously struggling because all the staff and the workers had to come back for another day, and they have a lot of temporary tents, so all that stuff had to be taken down the next day, and they had to push that back a day. Everyone was very stressed.
“But it turned out to be a very good final, because as we know, Alex’s fans are crazy.
“So even though it did not go well for me, it was a very full stadium for a Monday postponed final, which I thought was pretty rare and pretty cool.”
Eala dominated when play resumed to win the final set 6-0, claiming her first WTA title.
She carried that winning form through to the Canadian Open, where she defeated Alycia Parks and Caty McNally to reach the fourth round.
Unfortunately for Eala, her run ended there, losing to Belinda Bencic in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6.
Alex Eala’s seven-match winning streak.
- Washington Open 1R [WIN] vs Qinwen Zheng, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
- Washington Open 2R [WIN] vs Leylah Fernandez, 6-2, 7-6
- Washington Open QF [WIN] vs Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 6-4
- Washington Open SF [WIN] vs Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-2
- Washington Open F [WIN] vs Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
- Canadian Open 2R [WIN] vs Alycia Parks, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
- Canadian Open 3R [WIN] vs Caty McNally, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
- Canadian Open 4R [LOSS] vs Belinda Bencic, 4-6, 0-6
The question now is whether she can return to winning ways in Cincinnati.
Who will Alex Eala play first in Cincinnati?
Competing as the 17th seed, Eala will receive a bye into the second round of the Cincinnati Open.
There, she will play either Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Magda Linette.
Eala lost her sole previous meeting with Ruse, in US Open qualifying two years ago, but is tied 2-2 in her head-to-head with Linette.
Despite what the records say, Eala will be the favourite to advance to round three, where she could play Amanda Anisimova, Daria Kasatkina, or Zeynep Sonmez.
It remains to be seen if the world number 20 can make another deep run when she returns to WTA Tour competition in Cincinnati, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
Eala will play Ruse or Linette in the second round on Saturday, August 15, or Sunday, August 16.
