“A bit of a tug of war battle”: Danielle Collins breaks down Eala’s biggest tactical issue

Danielle Collins has delivered a measured assessment of Alexandra Eala’s emergence on the WTA Tour, combining clear praise with a detailed breakdown of the areas that could determine her progression. Speaking during her role as a Tennis Channel analyst at the Miami Open, the American—who won the title in 2024—focused on both the strengths behind Eala’s rise and the technical limitations that remain.

Eala, seeded No. 31, produced one of the most notable runs of the 2025 Miami Open, defeating multiple top-tier opponents to reach the semi-finals. Her victories over Jelena Ostapenko (No. 25), Madison Keys (No. 5) and Iga Swiatek (No. 2) established her as a serious contender on hard courts, particularly given the variety of playing styles she overcame across those matches.

The run also highlighted her physical and mental endurance. In the second round, Eala came through a three-hour, 20-minute battle against Laura Siegemund, one of the longest matches on tour in 2026 and the longest of her career. That match, alongside her comeback wins during the event, reinforced her capacity to sustain long rallies and recover from difficult positions.

Collins, meanwhile, has had a limited start to the 2026 season after her 2024 Miami triumph, with reduced match activity early in the year. Her presence in Miami as a pundit has provided a platform to analyse emerging players, and her comments on Eala offered one of the most detailed player-to-player evaluations of the tournament.

Collins began by emphasising Eala’s tactical awareness and ability to construct points in unconventional ways. She pointed to her variation and composure as elements that make her difficult to play against, particularly for opponents who rely on rhythm and baseline dominance. “She has some craftiness up her sleeve as well. She has just someone that I’m obviously very impressed with.”

A central component of that effectiveness, according to Collins, is Eala’s defensive resilience. Her ability to absorb pace and extend rallies allows her to neutralise aggressive opponents and shift momentum over time, a trait that was evident throughout her Miami campaign against higher-ranked players. “Her ability to absorb is world-class.”

While these qualities have already translated into high-level wins, the 2024 Miami Open champion indicated that they function more as a foundation than a complete package. Against the very top tier, she suggested, additional weapons—particularly on serve—will be required to avoid being placed under constant pressure in return games.

Collins identified Eala’s second serve as the most significant area for improvement, noting that its current pace can allow opponents to take control of rallies early. In high-level matches, she explained, this creates a recurring pattern where Eala is forced into defensive exchanges from the outset.

“The second serve definitely can sit up at times. It’s a little bit slower pace, so it gives people an opportunity to step in against her, and then it’s a bit of a tug of war battle and so if she could get some more pop on her serve.”

Beyond the tactical issue, Collins outlined the broader challenge of developing power on serve, stressing that it often requires long-term technical and physical adjustments rather than quick fixes.

“I think it’s a little bit more difficult [than just jumping into it a little more]. I think for a lot of players it either comes naturally or it doesn’t. And when it doesn’t, it becomes a little bit more challenging because you really have to get dialled into getting the technique down, really focusing on trying to build the physical strengths with your legs, with your shoulder, to be able to produce that type of power.”