Former British No 1 Annabel Croft believes Alex Eala is developing a presence on the WTA Tour that is hard to ignore, both in the dressing room and in the stands.

Since the left-hander’s run to the semi-finals at the 2025 Miami Open, interest in Eala has grown rapidly. The support behind the 21-year-old, driven by a large Filipino fan base, has helped turn her into one of the most talked-about players on tour. That attention has been matched by results, with Eala climbing to a career-high ranking of 18 after a strong summer that included her first WTA Tour title in Washington and a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon, where she defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek.

At the Canadian Open this month, Eala once again drew huge crowds in Toronto, creating an atmosphere that impressed Croft. The former world No 24 said she had never seen anything quite like it and was struck by how comfortably Eala handled the noise and expectation.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Croft said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. The stadium, you could not get a seat. The noise, the excitement levels, and she just takes it all in her stride. And you could see in Washington what she brings to the court and she plays with such grace.

“There’s a certain class about her. I love her attitude. I love the way she goes after the ball. She’s a very deceptive tennis player. Being a lefty, she’s quite awkward, but that forehand… it’s not a huge strike, but it does damage.”

Croft also pointed to Eala’s serve, saying her left-handed delivery can unsettle opponents through spin, placement and variation. She drew a comparison with Angelique Kerber and argued that repeated wins over top 10 players are building a reputation that matters on tour.

“I would imagine that she has built up some kind of locker-room respect right now where you build a certain aura and then that counts for quite a lot on the tour as well because players don’t want to face you because of the record that she’s building up.

“There’s something awkward about a lefty serve, a little bit like Kerber. I remember she didn’t have a big serve, but it was so well placed into the court. But also when you put a lot of spin on it and it sometimes has less pace on it, you’re forcing your opponents to generate pace and they start to get a bit jittery.

“She keeps notching up the big wins, but she’s also backing up the pressure wins. She plays under a lot of pressure with all of that excitement from the Filipino community. They turn out in their droves to watch her. That for some people would be a pressure, but she embraces it. She loves it.”

Asked about Eala’s prospects at the US Open, which begins on Sunday, Croft stopped short of calling her a contender. Even so, she felt few players would be eager to see her name in the draw in New York over the next two weeks.

“She’s obviously somebody who enjoys being on a big stage. There will be a lot of players that won’t want to face her because she’s very in form. And I think the hard courts really suit her game.”

Carlos Alcaraz met the press with unusual directness ahead of his return to competition at the US Open, where he is set to begin defending his title after a spell on the sidelines with a wrist injury.

The Spaniard arrives in New York with no shortage of outside doubt surrounding his decision to resume at a Grand Slam played over the best-of-five-set distance. Alcaraz acknowledged that the concern was understandable, but maintained that he and his team believe he is ready to compete with the game’s best.

“I know that coming to the US Open, with best-of-five-set matches, is something really difficult. But my team and I think I’m ready,” declared Alcaraz.

He said the choice to return was not taken lightly. Alcaraz explained that he worked carefully on and off the court to judge how his body would respond, including long, highly demanding training sessions.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I did everything I needed to do to be ready.

“I tried to do things as well as possible, on and off the court, to feel ready. In particular, I did long, very intense training sessions to see how my body would react.”

Those sessions, he said, showed enough progress to convince him that the timing was right. He also described the US Open as the ideal place to come back, pointing to the atmosphere and the welcome he has received there before.

“And I couldn’t dream of a better tournament than the US Open to make my return, to feel the love of the public again and to rediscover the warm welcome that people here have always given me.”

Alcaraz also reflected on the recovery itself, saying the first month was especially difficult because he could not use his right arm. At the same time, he said the enforced break brought moments with family and friends, even as uncertainty about his return date made the process mentally demanding.

He insisted he has not altered his technique, movement, or style to protect the wrist. Instead, he framed the challenge as one of confidence.

“I have been doing the same things. I didn’t change anything about technique, [about] movement, about the way that I’m going to play,” added the seven-time Grand Slam winner.

With Roman Safiullin awaiting in his opening match, Alcaraz’s comments suggest the physical test may be only part of the challenge. The bigger question may be how fully he trusts his body, and his own mind, once competition begins.

Alex Eala has lined up another notable stop in an already crowded 2026 calendar, announcing an exhibition in her home country shortly after appearing alongside her father in a US Open show match.

The 21-year-old continues to build a strong season. She has compiled a 38/20 record, lifted her first WTA Tour title in Washington earlier this summer, and climbed to a career-high ranking of 18. At Flushing Meadows, where she is seeded 17th, she opens against a qualifier.

Eala’s schedule remains full for the months ahead before the season wraps up in Indian Wells, where the top eight players in the world will contest the WTA Finals. Even so, the left-hander remains an outside prospect for that event, which is set for 8-15 November. In the meantime, she has confirmed an exhibition that she hopes will have a wider impact back home.

In early December, Eala will play at Philippine Arena, Bulacan, against world no 35 Janice Tjen. She said the event is designed to encourage younger players and celebrate national pride. In an Instagram post, she told her fans, “I’ve got exciting news, I’m coming home on December 8th. I’ll be playing in the Philippine Arena against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen.

“Get ready for an unforgettable day of world-class tennis and the celebration of national pride designed to inspire the next generation of Filipino tennis players. I can’t wait to share this moment with you and celebrate our culture together.”

She also noted that tickets are now on sale and added, “Thank you so much for all your support going into the US Open.”

That US Open week also brought a lighter moment on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Eala met close friend Iva Jovic in an exhibition. Jovic won 6-3 in a match that featured a brief mixed doubles section with both players’ fathers on court. Eala and Jovic could still meet later in the tournament, with a possible third-round clash on the table.