Alexandra Eala’s status within the tennis world is already that of an absolute superstar.
As such, fans flock to catch a glimpse of her, whilst even her fellow players are keen to get involved with her in any capacity.
The fact that she is a keen doubles player has provided this opportunity for some stars on the WTA Tour, and her fame was no better emphasised than when Venus Williams extended an invitation to her earlier this year.
Alexandra Eala was never going to turn that opportunity down, and they played together in Bad Homburg before announcing they would reunite here in Washington for a second time.
How many Grand Slams will Alex Eala win in her career? 🏆
She's just knocked out the defending Wimbledon champion!
And yet, once the ladies doubles draw came out, this partnership was nowhere to be seen.
Venus has since explained why she thinks Eala is no longer playing with her, with the Filipina superstar having now given her side of the story.
Alex Eala admits she couldn’t give her all to Venus Williams
Speaking at her press conference ahead of her first-round match in the singles tomorrow, it should surprise no one that the dissolution of her partnership with Williams was a hot topic.
Asked to explain how this came about, seeking to find out who initiated their split, Eala answered with caution and care.
She admitted: “I have so much respect for Venus.
“I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have to be around her, to learn from her, to hit with her. But I do think this is my first week coming back, and I think that Venus is someone who deserves a partner who can give their all physically, emotionally, mentally when they’re on court with her.
“I think right now I can only do that for singles. I don’t have the capacity yet to be able to give that in both singles and doubles. I’m really grateful for the opportunity that I had, or have, and hopefully we see more of it in the future.”
Eala will play Qinwen Zheng in the first round at Washington, marking a nightmare start in a really tough draw for her.
Alex Eala prioritises singles rankings push over Venus Williams
It’s clear why Eala has opted to push her partnership with Williams to the wayside, as tough as that must have been.
After all, these next few months mark an outstanding opportunity for her to make huge strides and reach heights that neither she nor anyone from her home country has ever done before.
Eala could enjoy a huge rankings boost even before the US Open begins, with just 70 points to defend between now and then.
It’s the end of the 2026 season… How many matches has Venus Williams won this year? Where is she ranked? Let us know in the comments👇
And even then, when she does head to New York, she needs only defend points from a second-round exit.
As harsh as it sounds, she is right to prioritise her own future, even if it is at the expense of a legend of the sport. Hopefully, as both have said, the opportunity arises again to see them unite on the doubles court.
