Greg Rusedski has described Alex Eala as tennis’ biggest name right now as she gets ready to begin her 2026 US Open campaign.

The 21-year-old arrives in New York with clear momentum. She ended 2025 ranked 50th and has climbed inside the top 20 ahead of the season’s final Grand Slam. Even with her serve still ranked outside the world’s top 50, the Filipina continues to push into new territory and is seeded 17th at Flushing Meadows.

Eala’s appeal stretches well beyond results. She has built a sizeable following among spectators at her matches and across social media, where anything linked to her draws heavy attention.

Before her Tuesday meeting with American Mary Stoiana, former US Open finalist Rusedski praised the Washington Open champion and said he sees the possibility of a long run in New York, with world No 1 status not out of reach one day.

Speaking on his podcast, he said, “Well, she does. And it was very interesting during the practice sessions, a certain Uncle Tony, Rafael Nadal’s uncle, showed up on the practice courts with her, saw the team out there.

“And whenever she’s going to practice, the noise for her practice sessions is unbelievable. I think she’ll be pretty comfortable in her opening round. I think something like 6-3 6-3.

“I think she’s got a draw which is difficult but I think she’ll find a way into the fourth round against [Coco] Gauff. I think she has a real shot to win that one if she gets there as well. So I have nothing but respect for her.

“I think she’s got a great mentality. She loves the hard courts. This surface is perfect for the way she plays. If she can just keep on improving that service she’s working on, the sky’s the limit for her. She could get to number one.

“She is right now by far, in my opinion, the biggest star in our game. She gets the most hits on social media, the most views. She is just wonderful for our sport. So I can’t wait for that opener. Looking forward to it and looking forward to ‘Eala Mania’ throughout these two weeks of the championships.”

If she gets past Stoiana, Eala could next meet another American in Reese Brantmeier, though Oleksandra Oliynykova may yet alter that path. A possible third-round match with Iva Jovic would be notable, especially with the teenager having won both previous meetings in straight sets. Gauff could then await in round four, although Eala has only reached that stage of a Grand Slam once before, at Wimbledon this year.

Her popularity has also been reflected in ticket demand. According to Front Office Sports, prices for her opener have risen sharply, with Tuesday’s night session set to feature Eala and the get-in price climbing as interest has grown. Whether that pull translates into results on court will become clearer this week.

Alex Eala has been singled out as a potential threat at the 2026 US Open after a former world No 4 described her as an “unbelievable competitor”. The world No 18 arrives in New York as the 17th seed and opens her campaign against Mary Stoiana on Tuesday.

This will be Eala’s second appearance in the US Open main draw. Last year, she reached the second round, and she now returns with a stronger profile after producing the best Grand Slam performance of her career so far at Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round in 2026.

Her route through the draw could still demand a lot. She is projected to meet 14th seed Iva Jovic in the third round and No 4 seed Coco Gauff in the last 16, a section that underlines the scale of the challenge ahead.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Tim Henman chose Eala as his dark horse in the women’s draw. “[Eala is an] unbelievable competitor,” said the former British No 1.

“The improvement she’s made in her game, and add to that the support that she has, she really is great to watch.

“I love her attitude and that spirit. So, as an outsider, I’m very happy with that pick.”

Henman also named world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time reigning US Open champion, as his favourite for the title. On Sabalenka, he said: “She hasn’t been playing particularly well, but I think a player of her stature, when she gets to the Grand Slams and the biggest and best events, you find that there’s an extra gear to her game and there’s also an extra intensity to her focus and concentration.”

“You go back to that old saying: Form is temporary, class is permanent.”

Eala, meanwhile, spoke confidently about the mindset she is carrying into the event. “I think I have a pretty strong baseline of belief in myself. And of course, it can all, it’s very normal that it fluctuates,” said Eala.

“There are moments where it’s more difficult to believe in yourself. And there are moments where it’s much easier. But I think my baseline has remained quite steady, and maybe on an incline, but a very, very, very slow incline.

“I think that’s what’s important is to have that foundation of, I know what I can do, I’m strong, who I am as a person, what my character is. And then of course, the results may vary, depending on the time of the year and how you’re doing at the moment.”

Aryna Sabalenka opened her US Open title defence with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio, then used her post-match interview to address the criticism surrounding her in recent weeks.

The world No. 1 has had a difficult stretch, with surprising defeats denting her confidence. Losses at the French Open and Wimbledon were among the setbacks, and she arrived at the US Open after defeats to Sara Bejlek at the Cincinnati Open and Ekaterina Alexandrova. That run prompted some critics to suggest she had been devoting too much time to sponsor commitments, especially with a flurry of product launches in the week leading up to the event.

Her basketball-inspired US Open dress has also drawn attention, with debate and criticism spreading on social media. Asked about that negativity, Sabalenka made clear that she had heard the outside noise and had chosen not to let it guide her.

Sky Sports presenter Gigi Salmon put the issue to her directly, saying: “Everyone has an opinion on what you eat, on what you wear, on how you play, on how you live your life,” said Salmon.

“How good are you at just putting that to one side and not listening and just letting it go over your head and just do what you do?”

Sabalenka’s reply was forceful. “Honestly, it took me a little while to shut down those noises. It’s always going to be people who support your choices, people who go against that, people who love you, who hate you. And I’m like, I’m so tired of those miserable haters.

“So I decided to stay really, you know, stay strong with myself and trust the process, trust myself, trust with my choices, with my taste, and whatever. And whoever loves me, they’re going to be there for me no matter what.

“Haters? Honestly, I don’t want to curse here right now, but they can go and have fun with their own lives

“Whatever people are saying on the internet, I heard they probably didn’t like it.”

She also addressed the dress itself, saying: “It’s funny for me, because when Nike was, like, pretty simple and standard, they were complaining.

“When Nike went really cool and fun and trying to get back, they always complain. So who cares about people, right? All that matters for me is that I love it.”

Sabalenka’s performance against Osorio was strong, and she will now want her tennis to remain the main focus across the next two weeks.