The tennis world is abuzz with the rise of Alexandra Eala, the young Filipina star who has been on a winning streak, recently claiming her first WTA Tour event in Washington. Her recent victory in the Canadian Open, where she battled past American Caty McNally, has further solidified her status as a rising talent. However, despite her impressive wins, Eala's journey to becoming a top-tier player is far from over. Her serve, a critical component of any tennis player's arsenal, has long been a weak point, lacking the power needed to challenge some of the best returners on the circuit.
Rick Macci, the legendary former coach of Serena and Venus Williams, has offered a scathing critique of Eala's serving troubles. Macci, who has also worked with Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick, is known for his keen eye for detail and his ability to pinpoint areas of improvement. In a recent post on X, Macci revealed that Eala's leg drive timing is off, causing a decrease in acceleration and an early opening of the right side, which in turn causes the racket head to drop. This, he claims, is the main culprit behind her serving struggles.
Macci's advice is blunt and to the point: if Eala seeks biomechanical help for her serve, she'd better buckle up. He suggests that with the right adjustments, Eala could become a left-handed laser, capable of hitting 115 mph serves and winning more sets. This is a bold statement, but it highlights the potential for significant improvement in Eala's game.
The statistics from her match against McNally support Macci's claims. Eala struck two aces and landed 70% of her first serves, but she also hit two double faults and won only 56% of her first-serve attempts and 52% of her second-serve points. In contrast, McNally, who has a 2-6 record against Gauff, hit one ace, five double faults, and won 53% of her first-serve points and 50% of her second-serve attempts. These numbers underscore the need for Eala to address her serving issues if she hopes to compete at the highest level.
The question now is whether Eala will take Macci's advice to heart and make the necessary changes to her serve. If she does, it could be a game-changer, propelling her towards the top of the tennis world. However, if she ignores this critical area of her game, she may find herself struggling to keep up with the best players on the circuit. The tennis community will be watching closely to see how Eala responds to this challenge and whether she can transform her serve into a weapon of mass destruction.
