{"id":2097095,"date":"2026-08-17T09:35:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T06:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2097095"},"modified":"2026-08-17T09:35:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T06:35:48","slug":"alex-eala-gets-candid-verdict-about-avoiding-key-mistakes-as-rafael-nadal-comparison-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2097095","title":{"rendered":"Alex Eala gets candid verdict about avoiding key &#8216;mistakes&#8217; as Rafael Nadal comparison made"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Alex Eala gets candid verdict about avoiding key \u2018mistakes\u2019 as Rafael Nadal comparison made<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"17 Aug 2026 10:35 AM\" data-ps-date=\"17 Aug 2026 10:35 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1786959348\"><br \/>\n                            17 Aug 2026 10:35 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" 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space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Alex Eala gets candid verdict about avoiding key \u2018mistakes\u2019 as Rafael Nadal comparison made\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Alex-Eala-with-inset-of-Rafael-Nadal-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Alex Eala with inset of Rafael Nadal\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Alex Eala with Rafael Nadal in the inset                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Former world No 4 Greg Rusedski has explained why he does not think Alex Eala will make a key \u201cmistake\u201d as he highlighted the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/rafael-nadal\">Rafael Nadal<\/a> as a mentor to the Filipina.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alex-eala\">Eala<\/a> began her campaign at the 2026 Cincinnati Open with a second round victory against Elena-Gabriela Ruse \u2014 who retired when trailing 1-6, 0-3.<\/p>\n<p>The 21-year-old arrived in Cincinnati after reaching the fourth round in Toronto and capturing her maiden WTA Tour title in Washington DC.<\/p>\n<p>The world No 20 will face 10th-ranked Amanda Anisimova in the third round at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on his <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=b3H4ceLekEM\" target=\"_blank\">Off Court With Greg Rusedski<\/a> podcast, Rusedski hailed Eala\u2019s attitude and her \u201cno excuses\u201d approach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s incredible. I mean, yeah, she ran out of gas against [Belinda] Bencic, and Bencic played a great match, but what I\u2019m liking is she\u2019s playing week-in, week-out,\u201d said the former British No 1.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe has no excuses. She performs, if she wins; she wins, if she loses; she loses. No excuse, I\u2019m giving 110%. The attitude is there.<\/p>\n<h2>WTA Tour News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alex-eala-hindered-her-us-open-chances-with-latest-scheduling-decision\"><strong>Alex Eala might have just hindered her US Open chances with latest scheduling decision<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alex-eala-ranking-sponsors-prize-money-biggest-win\"><strong>Alex Eala\u2019s ranking, prize money, sponsors and her next tournament<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe was up a set easily, 3-0, got a default [against Ruse], now she\u2019s stepping up against Anisimova, and everybody said, \u2018Oh, the draw\u2019s gonna be so tough\u2019 \u2014 she won Washington in one of the most difficult draws to win that event.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, I\u2019m just so impressed with Eala. Can\u2019t wait to see her play Anisimova \u2014 that is blockbuster. I\u2019m setting my alarm to see that one. Can\u2019t wait for it to kick off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rusedski, who was a runner-up at the US Open in 1997, also praised the team around Eala as he addressed her busy schedule.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI look at it like this \u2014 she\u2019s got Rafael Nadal as a mentor, she\u2019s been at the Nadal academy. She has been a junior world No 1, and she\u2019s got her coach, who does an excellent job,\u201d said Rusedski.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, this is the ideal lead-up, Washington, Toronto; lost in her third match; now she\u2019s playing Cincinnati. There\u2019s a week off next week, so she\u2019s scheduling perfectly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf she\u2019s playing the week before the US Open, then there\u2019s a problem. The nice thing with her coach \u2014 they can always go to Rafa, like [Iga] Swiatek did with [Francisco] Roig, and get that balance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd he (Nadal) understands that, because he\u2019s had that in his younger career where he overplayed a little bit with uncle Toni, then he balanced it out depending with his age when he went to [Carlos] Moya.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd I think she\u2019s got such a good group of people from her agent, to her coach, to her physio, to having Rafa there, as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s not going to make those mistakes, because she can balance these things off. And also she has a love [for tennis].<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe has to find the balance, because if you underplay, your body\u2019s not ready. If you overplay, you hurt yourself. So, it\u2019s getting that balance, and I don\u2019t see that balance being missed out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, I think she\u2019s going to be smart, she\u2019s looking at long-term. I just think she\u2019s a ray of light for the WTA, and I don\u2019t think she\u2019s going to make the mistakes players have in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alex-eala-biggest-star-tennis-sam-querrey-cincinnati-open\">Alex Eala is a \u2018problem\u2019 for her WTA rivals, says former world No 11<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alex Eala gets candid verdict about avoiding key \u2018mistakes\u2019 as Rafael Nadal comparison made Ewan West 17 Aug 2026 10:35 AM Alex Eala with Rafael Nadal in the inset Former world No 4 Greg Rusedski has explained why he does not think Alex Eala will make a key \u201cmistake\u201d as he highlighted the importance of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2097095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2097095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097095\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2097095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2097095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2097095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}