Overview
- Eala lost a tight US Open third-round match to Iva Jovic on Sept. 5 and remains world No. 18 after the result.
- High-profile coaches have split on her serve: Rick Macci says it needs a science-based, reconstructive overhaul while Brad Gilbert calls it a long-term project.
- Other experts and players, including Andy Roddick and Iga Swiatek, say the slower serve can be an effective tactical weapon when followed by aggressive next shots.
- Season figures show a roughly 63.3% first-serve percentage and about 61.8% of first-serve points won, but match-level drops in serve win rates, lower measured speeds and a rise in double faults in key moments have intensified scrutiny.
- Eala has confirmed she will play the Singapore Open (Sept. 21–27) before representing the Philippines at the Asian Games in Nagoya, and a singles gold there would secure automatic qualification for Los Angeles 2028 while forcing her to skip the China Open.