Pam Shriver on Alex Eala’s Grand Slam Potential and Fan Impact

Alexandra Eala has only just begun her journey on the professional tennis circuit, yet she has already positioned herself near the pinnacle of the sport.

This rapid ascent has brought increased pressure, with many observers questioning whether and when she will translate her undeniable talent into a Grand Slam victory.

Her victory in Washington earlier this summer marked her first title at the WTA Tour level, occurring between two career-best performances at Wimbledon and the US Open. While she is clearly advancing toward that ultimate objective, she still appears distant from achieving such glory.

Pam Shriver remains hopeful, and during a conversation with Dyan Castillejo for ABS-CBN News, she offered high praise for Alexandra Eala’s game before addressing her realistic prospects for a Grand Slam title.

Pam Shriver rates Alex Eala’s chances of winning a Grand Slam title.

Shriver began with a brief assessment of what makes Eala so special: “I feel like her movement is exceptional. I love the way she uses angles. A lot of left-handers through the years, and it can develop; they just develop the appreciation of spin and the use of spin really well.

“I also have seen a great improvement on some of her weaker shots. Let’s just use the serve. That was so vulnerable a couple of years ago.

“But just overall, her attitude stays very positive.”

Then, highlighting the serve, Shriver explained how criticisms are not always fair, arguing: “Alex has a really good slice serve.

“It’s about spin and placement and disguise and varying the pace. There are a lot of things that go into making a great serve.

“And even if you don’t have a great serve, it’s really how you back it up. She backs it up really, really well. If she’s not having a good day serving, it doesn’t affect the rest of her game.”

It will naturally not be her most powerful shot, a fact Shriver acknowledges.

However, she suggested looking to Angelique Kerber, who secured three major titles without possessing an outstanding serve.

Asked if Eala needs to improve that area of her game if she is to ever win a Grand Slam, Shriver claimed: “I think Alex Eala could learn a little bit from how Kerber won her major with that serve. And then kind of really lean on what makes you special, which, for me, is her defence; it’s her ability to take the ball early, willingness to come to net, the intangibles, her attitude.

“So when you put the whole package together, if she has the belief, anything’s possible.”

In the same interview, Eala was also commended for possessing a skill that Novak Djokovic did not develop until later in his career.

Pam Shriver shares her thoughts on whether Alex Eala’s Filipino fans are beneficial for tennis.

Later in that same interview, the 21-time Grand Slam doubles champion discussed Eala’s supporters and the significant contributions they have already made to the sport.

Asked if they were good for the sport, despite at times lacking the expected etiquette, Shriver argued: “When I saw Alex Eala play close up for the first time. I commentated on some of her matches and saw her on TV, but that was the first time, like, wow, right there. It was very impressive.

“It can certainly have a lot [of impact on a player]. So much kind of depends on the opponent. If the opponent allows the crowd to get into their head, then it can really pay huge dividends, but, you know, for the most part, I feel like tennis players understand. Sometimes the crowd’s gonna be for them, sometimes not. And they need to just stay in their process.

“And I feel like the chair umpires too also know that they need to draw the boundaries, so that if there’s some Filipinos that are there that don’t understand tennis and some of the etiquette, but it’s okay. Like, we want so many people to come into our sport and enjoy it.”