Greg Rusedski has singled out Alex Eala’s latest US Open performance as proof of a player with a significant edge, describing what he called a “dangerous combination” after her first-round victory.

Eala produced a straightforward opening win at the 2026 US Open, defeating world No 122 Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday night in Louis Armstrong Stadium. The 17th seed, ranked world No 18, is attempting to surpass the second-round result she reached during her main draw debut at the tournament last year.

The 21-year-old Filipina has put together a strong stretch on North American hard courts and has now won nine of her past 11 matches. That form drew praise from Rusedski, who discussed her on his Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast after the match.

“Well, she’s the biggest superstar in the women’s game. No question about it, at the moment. I mean, she’s box office,” said the 1997 US Open finalist.

Rusedski said Eala’s response to pressure stood out, particularly in the way she carried herself in her press conference after the closed-roof match. He also noted her focus on improving her serve and the increase in her service speed numbers, pointing to a player who is still developing while already excelling on a major stage.

“She talked about working on her serve and improving her serve. How her service speed numbers have gone up as well. So, she’s continually looking to get better and she likes a big stage.

“It was an impressive performance in her opening round, and she’s only going to go from strength to strength. And what I like about her, she’s got that humbleness and that confidence, and that’s a dangerous combination.

“So, from my point of view, I’m looking like she’s on a crash course to meet Coco Gauff in the fourth round, and possibly become the first Filipina to be in the quarter-finals of major. She’s playing that well.

“I was impressed with her movement, her return of serve, her groundstrokes. She was impressive.

“But before we get ahead of that, she’s got [Iva] Jovic in her section, as well, who she played like a little exhibition match with.”

The former British No 1 also said Eala’s visibility in New York reflects her growing popularity, adding that her presence across the city and in campaigns shows her broad appeal. For Rusedski, she is not only a player in form, but one who is becoming increasingly central to the event’s conversation.

Alex Eala opened her US Open run with a straight-sets win over Mary Stoiana, earning a second-round meeting with Oleksandra Oliynykova in New York. While that campaign continues, her broader schedule is also taking shape behind the scenes.

The 21-year-old has already committed to the Singapore Open, which begins on September 21, and she is also looking ahead to the WTA Tour’s Asian swing after the US Open. But one major event will not be part of her path.

Eala is not on the entry list for the China Open, the WTA 1000 tournament that closes out September, even though it is a mandatory event. The reason is her decision to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games, which runs from September 19 to October 4.

That choice carries consequences for players who miss events without a valid medical reason or who do not meet promotional requirements, yet Eala has still opted to place country ahead of the tour calendar. It is a familiar pattern for her. At the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, she earned multiple medals, winning gold in singles and bronze in mixed doubles.

Eala did not play the China Open last year, so she will not have ranking points to defend there. She enters this stretch ranked world No. 16, and her position could keep improving depending on how she performs at the US Open.

A run at the China Open would have given her a clear opportunity to chase a top-10 breakthrough, but she has chosen to step away from singles competition for a few weeks in order to support her country on one of sport’s biggest stages.

In a game driven by money and sponsorship, Eala is taking a different route. Her next likely WTA Tour appearance is the Wuhan Open, the final Masters event of the year, scheduled for October 12 to October 18.

Emma Raducanu’s 2026 campaign has been marked by sharp contrasts, with encouraging runs interrupted by injury and illness. The British player has missed significant parts of the season, including much of the clay-court period and most of the grass swing.

When Raducanu has been able to compete, she has still shown enough to suggest she belongs among the WTA Tour’s leading names. This year she has reached two Tour finals, at the Transylvania Open and Queen’s, and has recorded wins over Iva Jovic, Sorana Cirstea, and Maja Chwalinska.

Her last appearance came at Queen’s, after which a stress fracture ruled her out of Wimbledon and the North American hardcourt swing. Even so, there is now a positive sign for the months ahead, with Raducanu listed for a tournament scheduled to take place at the end of September.

That event is the China Open, due to begin on September 30th in Beijing. As a WTA 1000 tournament, it is mandatory for all players, and her presence on the entry list points toward a return.

Raducanu played the event once before, in 2025, when she reached the third round. She received a bye into round two, defeated Cristina Bucsa in straight sets, and then faced Jessica Pegula. Their three-set battle ended in Pegula’s favor, with the American bagelling Raducanu in the deciding set.

This year, as the world No 87, Raducanu will not receive a bye and will need to start in the first round. The China Open will be followed quickly by the Wuhan Open, giving her the chance to play a busy stretch during the Asian swing.

Raducanu’s Chinese heritage through her mother and her ability to speak the language have made her a popular figure in the region. She also has a major sponsorship with Japanese brand Uniqlo, adding to the sense that Asia could provide an important stage for the rest of her season. With tournaments across China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India between September and November, this may be her best opportunity to rebuild momentum and climb back up the rankings.