Four-Time Grand Slam WinnerPredicts Philippines’ Alex Eala to Win Her First Major
Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters believes Alex Eala has a better chance of winning her first Grand Slam than Jessica Pegula. The Filipino left-hander’s powerful return and aggressive mindset could secure a breakthrough win for the WTA star.
Eala, 21, is currently ranked 20th in the world after an impressive fourth-round run at Wimbledon and a Washington title in 2026. Despite concerns over her serve, Clijsters says Eala’s strong returns can break opponents' serves down effectively and give her a fighting chance.
Strong Returns Key
In an interview with the latest episode of Love All, Clijsters said: “Eala and Jessie [Pegula] have such strong weapons when it comes to the return game. And we saw with Sabalenka and Alexandrova… those players have bad service games and days too.”
Mindset and Mental Strength Crucial
Ressource: Clijsters emphasized that mental strength is often more important than raw serve power, mentioning past Grand Slam winners like Ana Ivanovic and Angelique Kerber who were not considered among the best servers in their era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question?
Is Kim Clijsters confident Alex Eala can win a Grand Slam?
Answer: Clijsters believes Eala’s strong groundstrokes and mental resilience could lead her to win a major, while pegging Pegula as slightly further away from achieving the same.