Alexandra Eala came through an incredibly tense second round match at Indian Wells against Dayana Yastremska.
Eala produced a stunning Indian Wells comeback in the deciding set to secure her place in the third round for the first time.
The Filipina has made huge strides on the WTA Tour in the last few months, but she has still shown signs of improvement.
Martina Navratilova pinpointed a major improvement she thinks Eala should make and it is clear the young Filipina has been listening to the all-time great.
Alexandra Eala’s serve looks vastly improved at Indian Wells following Martina Navratilova’s advice
Navratilova urged Eala to improve her serve in order to continue climbing the WTA Tour rankings ahead of Indian Wells.
Speaking to the WTA, she said: “I think where she can improve the most is her serve, or make it pay off more.She needs a bigger serve and bigger kick.
“She’s got the slice down pat. Just believe and hold her ground. “She is slight of build so it’s harder for her to absorb all that pace. But I think she can beef up a little and punch up that serve.”
What is the best win of Alexandra Eala’s career so far? 🤔
Iga Swiatek in Miami, Clara Tauson at the US Open, Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, or a different match?
After her match against Yastremska, it’s clear to see Eala is working incredibly hard to improve that aspect of her game.
Eala made 72% of her first serves in her first Indian Wells match, which is significantly higher than her all-time average of 66.4%.
That equated to 59% of points won on Eala’s first serve, which is an impressive number by anyone’s standards.
Eala also only hit four double faults, so it’s clear she is becoming stronger and stronger on her serve following Navratilova’s words of encouragement.
What Alexandra Eala must work on next to continue her progress
Eala continues to astound on the WTA Tour, but there are several holes in her game that she must try to combat.
While the Filipina star’s dramatic ability to comeback from the depths of defeat is impressive, it is clear Eala has concentration struggles.
What does Alexandra Eala need to improve in 2026 to challenge for a Grand Slam title?
She rarely hits her top level throughout an entire match and often lets her opponent back into matches where she should be out of sight.
If Eala can try and combat those issues, it will also aid her energy levels as she will likely get through matches quicker.
Nevertheless, Eala’s run has been exceptionally impressive and she will no doubt give Coco Gauff a tough game in the third round.
