What Alex Eala is now doing in Canada proves that she’s ready to challenge for a Grand Slam title

After all, just a few months ago, this youngster was characterised by her ability to trouble the best, and her inability to consistently make deep runs at events.

Alexandra Eala would secure what seemed like a landmark victory, only to follow it up with shock defeats to players well below her relative level.

If we have learned anything at the Canadian Open this week, it’s that those times are long gone. Now, she might actually be proving that she’s ready to challenge for a Grand Slam title.

Alexandra Eala is finally grinding out wins against lesser opponents

When embarking on a campaign at a major event, the draw means little in the grand scheme of things.

Getting a good seeding and securing what should be an easier run on paper is important, but in the end, players end up facing opponents of wildly varying levels.

Which Grand Slam event is Alexandra Eala most likely to win? 🤔

It should, in theory, start out easier and get progressively harder with each match, before then facing the world’s best to earn that title.

Ironically, it was matches against the latter, which should have been more difficult, where she was thriving.

Before Wimbledon, Eala had played in five Grand Slam main draws and won just one match.

However, at the All England Club, she showed signs that she was ready to put such an unfortunate record behind her. She reached the fourth round, scoring expected wins against Renata Zarazúa and Maya Joint before then beating Iga Swiatek.

Then, in Washington, she built up and eventually had to topple the top three seeds to win the title.

The same is happening here in Toronto, having beaten Alycia Parks and Caty McNally, with a clash against Belinda Bencic looming.

We knew Eala could trouble the sport’s most elite players, but her ability to consistently overcome those she is expected to defeat is a new development, and one that certainly will make her a threat at the US Open and many Grand Slams to come.

Alex Eala’s record against top ten players

With consistency in beating those below her now seemingly locked down, it’s worth combing back over Eala’s astounding record against top ten players.

After all, of the 13 meetings she has had against those within that bracket, the Filipina has lost just four and won the other nine.

This has included victories over superstars like Elena Rybakina, Swiatek, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff.

If she were to make a run at a Grand Slam, these are the kind of players she would have to beat at the middle and latter stages of the event.

Pair this with the fact that Eala has one of the most passionate fanbases in tennis, and the tools are there for her to succeed.

The fact that she has already scored wins against the majority of those at the top should bode well for her chances of success in the future.