Grand Slam champion explains why Alex Eala's rise is her favourite 2026 tennis story
Daniela Hantuchova, a former world No 5 and four-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion, named Alex Eala's rise from 50th to the top 20, including a first WTA title in Washington, as the tennis story she savoured most in 2026.
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Daniela Hantuchova, eslovaca que já foi número 5 do mundo, elegeu a ascensão de Alex Eala como a história do tênis que mais a encantou em 2026.
No começo do ano a filipina estava em 50º. Uma campanha até a quarta rodada de Wimbledon e depois o primeiro título da WTA Tour em Washington a levaram para dentro do top 20.
Por isso, a canhota levou público recorde ao Masters de Toronto em agosto, e vem puxando milhões de novos seguidores para um esporte com pouca tradição na parte do mundo dela.
Hantuchova, quatro vezes campeã de Grand Slam em duplas mistas, se alegra acima de tudo com quantos espectadores pouco familiarizados agora acompanham o tênis feminino, e com o caminho percorrido pela número 18 do mundo.
Falando ao Match Point Canada, ela disse: “Eu ficaria com a história da Alex porque ela mostrou de novo que tipo de exposição e de poder o tênis tem, trazendo tanto interesse para a parte do mundo dela e, espero, tanta motivação para meninas das Filipinas pegarem uma raquete e seguirem os passos dela.”
Ela argumentou em seguida que o tênis alcança mais longe do que a maioria dos esportes, precisando apenas de uma bola e uma raquete para que alguém de origem simples persiga o mesmo sonho — e o caminho de Eala, na visão dela, está entre os exemplos mais inspiradores disso.
O ano de Eala está se encerrando. Na sexta-feira ela foi derrotada por Diana Shnaider no Pan Pacific Open, precisando de atendimento por um problema no pé, e ainda não está claro se ela vai alinhar na etapa WTA 250 de Hong Kong, na próxima semana.
Hantuchova, aconteça o que acontecer, se considera fã.
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