A high-profile former coach of Serena and Venus Williams believes Alex Eala’s meeting with Amanda Anisimova at the 2026 Cincinnati Open will be a major test of her progress.

Seeded 17th in Cincinnati, Eala is set to face ninth seed Anisimova in a third-round match that many had anticipated when the draw was released. It will be the first time the two meet, with Anisimova arriving as the world No 10 and a 24-year-old American who finished runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025.

Eala’s recent results give the contest extra weight. The 21-year-old Filipino has compiled a remarkable 9-4 career record against top-10 opponents, and seven of those wins have come this year. She has also won 11 of her last 13 matches, a stretch that has taken in Wimbledon, Washington DC, Toronto, and her opening match in Cincinnati.

Rick Macci, who has coached five players who went on to become world No 1, offered his view of the matchup in a post on X/Twitter. “EALA versus ANISIMOVA will give everybody a snapshot in real time of the Philippine machine and her movement and defense,” the American wrote.

He also explained why he views the meeting as a useful benchmark for Eala. “For her (Eala) to climb that mountain top the power players with clean lethal early strikes like her (Anisimova) is a great learning test for sure.

“When Alex is set on balance and able to hit on the rise this [is] when she gets you on a string and usually gets the prize.”

Macci later turned to Eala’s second serve, suggesting it could become even more effective if she adds pace. “Ask any WTA player if they would rather return a slow 70 mph second serve lefty lollipop or an 85 mph lefty laser from the Philippine machine gun and it is a slam dunk answer,” Macci wrote.

“Tennis is a game of time. Speed kills. Once Alex rewires everything in sync from the ground up look for her second serve to have juice bite and hop and other players wish they still tasted the LEFTY LOLLIPOP.”

Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski believes Novak Djokovic ought to be “protected” by tournament organisers after his early exit at the Cincinnati Open.

Djokovic fell 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to world No 50 Thiago Agustin Tirante in his opening match at the Masters 1000 event in Mason, Ohio on Saturday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion looked in command through the first set, but the extreme afternoon heat and humidity quickly changed the tone of the contest.

After the defeat, Djokovic explained that he has been managing a health issue that creates “a lot of issues” in difficult weather. “It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years. A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot,” the 39-year-old Serbian said.

“I did anticipate it, but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.”

On the latest episode of his Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast, Rusedski said the scheduling in Cincinnati was too harsh for Djokovic and argued that night sessions are the safer option.

“I’m just happy to have Novak around whenever it’s possible. He’s 39 years of age, what he’s achieved is phenomenal,” said the former world No 4.

He added that the conditions in Cincinnati can be punishing for anyone, not only an older player. “Novak has to be protected. He can’t be playing during the day. He has to be playing in the evenings, from 7 o’clock onwards. He’s earned the right to do so.”

Rusedski also pointed to the physical demands of the match and said Tirante used the conditions well after dropping the opening set. “So, for me, scheduling plays a part. I know you can’t always protect your big names because of rain and different things, but I think sometimes, you have to do those things.”

Former world No 4 Greg Rusedski has given a strong assessment of Alex Eala, saying he does not expect her to fall into the kind of “mistake” that can derail young players. In his view, Rafael Nadal’s presence as a mentor has been central to that stability.

Eala opened her 2026 Cincinnati Open campaign with a second-round win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who retired while trailing 1-6, 0-3. The 21-year-old arrived in Cincinnati on the back of a productive run in North America, having reached the fourth round in Toronto and won her first WTA Tour title in Washington DC.

Now ranked No 20 in the world, Eala will next meet No 10 Amanda Anisimova in the third round of the WTA 1000 event. Rusedski, speaking on his Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast, was especially taken with the way Eala has handled her schedule and results.

“It’s incredible. I mean, yeah, she ran out of gas against [Belinda] Bencic, and Bencic played a great match, but what I’m liking is she’s playing week-in, week-out,” said the former British No 1.

“She has no excuses. She performs, if she wins; she wins, if she loses; she loses. No excuse, I’m giving 110%. The attitude is there.

Rusedski also pointed to the support structure around the Filipina, including Nadal, her coach, her physio and her agent, as well as her time at the Nadal academy.

“I look at it like this — she’s got Rafael Nadal as a mentor, she’s been at the Nadal academy. She has been a junior world No 1, and she’s got her coach, who does an excellent job,” said Rusedski.

He added that Eala appears to be managing the balance between playing enough and not overdoing it, describing her as someone who is thinking long-term. For Rusedski, that combination of attitude, guidance and perspective makes her one of the more compelling players on the WTA Tour right now.