"If you’re a fan out there, just be a little patient" - Alarm bells not ringing for Greg Rusedski as he continues to back Alexandra Eala

Alexandra Eala has been highly touted by many to make a huge impact in the sport. The 20-year-old has proved to boast a solid all-round game with key weaknesses in her serve that need to be patched up, but at such a young age there is so much promise surrounding the Filippino. Former British number one Greg Rusedski called for patience as she continued to adapt to the tour after some damaging defeats.

The latest damaging defeat came in the second round of the Madrid Open. Eala found a way past Taylor Townsend before managing just three games against Elise Mertens, losing 6-2, 6-1 as she crashed out of the Madrid Open with a whimper.

There have been some other thrashings Eala has been on the end of in 2026, a concerning sign after picking up some impressive wins against big names. For example, her quarterfinal loss in Dubai and third round defeats at Indian Wells and Miami each had a grand total of two games won by Eala, being bageled in one of the sets as her WTA 1000 campaigns were abruptly halted.

Madrid is the latest one to be added to this list. While she is still picking up a steady number of points, she has already experienced a sharp drop after the points won from that incredible Miami Open run last year.

Rusedski analysed the situation, calling for tennis fans not to panic as Eala continued to find her feet in this high level of tennis which is also very ruthless. “Well, it’s the heavy hitters, it’s being on tour week in, week out. You are going to take some bruising losses,” Rusedski said on his podcast.

“You look at the one she lost the week previous in Stuttgart against Leylah Fernandez, she pushed [Elena] Rybakina all the way. So the losses she takes are not bad losses, it’s sometimes the score lines at times."

That Stuttgart match in question was a 6-1, 6-4 loss. She battled hard in the second set but was unable to abolish the deficit she was behind. However, throughout this time she has been positive, refusing to be drawn into the negative spiral that many tennis players have been dragged through as she looks onwards and upwards.

The former US Open finalist was hugely impressed with this part of her persona. “This is part of the learning experience, she’s too good of a player, she’ll figure it out. What I like is her resilience. If you’re a fan out there, just be a little patient; it might take a little bit longer for her, but she’s got a great team of people around her. Don’t get too discouraged.”

After Madrid, attentions for many will turn to the Rome Open, the next 1000 event. For Eala, she cannot wait for that long. She will take a step down from the WTA to the Challenger Tour as she looks to get back on track at the La Bisbal WTA 125 event.

It is a tournament with a number of notable names involved. That can be showcased with the fact that Eala is the sixth seed. Fernandez, Wang Xinyu, Ann Li, Katerina Siniakova and Peyton Stearns are all ranked above Eala.

This is a golden chance for Eala to get some points on the board and close in on the top 30 once more, especially if she wins the title and claims all 125 points. That will be a warm-up event for the Rome Open with Roland Garros soon coming up.