Rennae Stubbs Explains Why Victoria Mboko Can Lift Grand Slam Trophy but Alexandra Eala ‘Will Never Win’ One

Both Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala are making an impact on the women’s tour since last year. Mboko grabbed the headlines for the first time during last year’s Canadian Open, where she beat four Grand Slam champions, including four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka, in the final.

Eala hogged the spotlight during last year’s Miami Open. En route to her defeat to eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula, the Filipino ace upset six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, who, in fact, handed the 21-year-old her graduation certificate at the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2023.

Then in this year’s Wimbledon, Eala became the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam event. Before her defeat to Jasmine Paolini in the last 16, Eala knocked out Swiatek in the third round.

But apparently Eala doesn’t have what it takes to win a Grand Slam title, believes Rennae Stubbs, who coached Serena Williams in 2022 and also joined the entourage after the tennis great made her comeback this year. According to Stubbs, Eala’s serve needs a great deal of improvement.

Eala’s serve will never win her a Grand Slam. I know people could say the same about Angie [Angelique] Kerber, but I feel that’s what’s holding Eala back. I think it’s also what’s holding Jessica Pegula back. Pegula’s second serve is very vulnerable against players who hit the ball hard. I still hope she can win a Grand Slam, but right now I simply don’t see it happening.

Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

However, as per Stubbs, Mboko has everything it takes to emerge triumphant in a Major, particularly her confidence. Mboko is currently nursing a knee injury that she picked up during the Queen’s Club Championships.

Once Victoria Mboko recovers from her injury, I believe she has the skill, the audacity, and the confidence needed to win one. She doesn’t get nervous – she just goes for it. There are still many parts of her game she can improve, especially her serve, and technically her forehand can get even better. But it’s her confidence that makes me believe in her. Hopefully, once she recovers from this knee injury, she can win a Grand Slam over the next few years.

Rennae Stubbs added

Williams made her high-profile comeback at the Queen’s and played her first official match since the 2022 US Open third round in the doubles event alongside Mboko. They won their first-round match, but Mboko’s injury during her singles match saw them withdraw.

Alexandra Eala will face Jessica Pegula in the Citi Open final

Alexandra Eala invited criticism when she rejected the doubles offer from Venus Williams for the Citi Open. Eala said she did not feel mentally and physically prepared to compete both in singles and doubles. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, instead, paired up with Diana Shnaider, and they suffered a quarterfinal exit.

But Eala will be playing the singles final. After knocking out 2024 Paris Olympics champion Qinwen Zheng, Eala beat defending champion Leylah Fernandez before upsetting Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals and Naomi Osaka in the semifinals.

In the final, Eala will be locking horns with home favorite Jessica Pegula. This will be their second meeting following last year’s Miami Open semifinal.

Eala will be playing a singles final for the second time following last year’s Eastbourne International, which ended in favor of Maya Joint. Pegula, on the other hand, has already played three finals this season. The 2024 US Open runner-up won in Dubai (beat Svitolina) and Charleston (beat Yuliia Starodubtseva), and lost in Berlin (to Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova).

Also read: Kim Clijsters Shares Her Take on Jannik Sinner’s Decision to Skip Canadian Open: “Something’s Going on Behind the Scenes”