Overview
- Eala lost to Iva Jovic in the US Open third round in a three‑set match that highlighted serving problems, producing three aces, five double faults and nine breaks conceded.
- Former coaches including Brad Gilbert called the serve a major weakness that needs substantial work while Rick Macci said it may require a rebuild of her serving motion to reverse long‑held muscle memory.
- Other analysts such as Andy Roddick, Iga Swiatek and Greg Rusedski argued the serve’s disguise and Eala’s elite return and next‑ball aggression often compensate for slower pace.
- Season metrics show mixed signals: a strong first‑serve percentage near 63.3% and 61.8% of first‑serve points won keep her at a career‑high ranking in the top 20 despite recurring match‑specific drops in serve effectiveness.
- Eala has two weeks off after the US Open before Singapore and the Asian Games, giving her team a narrow immediate window for tweaks and leaving a fuller technical rebuild for the off‑season if they choose.