More and more people are starting to see Alex Eala not just as an up-and-coming tennis player but as a legitimate star and contender for the biggest trophies.

Former world No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark said in an article by Tennis365 that the 21-year-old Eala has all the tools she needs not just to win matches but to make deep runs in tournaments.

Eala is currently in the Philippines for a week-long break after a grueling but successful grass-court campaign highlighted by her reaching the Round of 16 of the Wimbledon Championships.

“Well, I think she has great potential. She has a good, all-around game. Great from the baseline,” Wozniacki said.

“I think it helps her that she’s a leftie, with her serve obviously not being great — that’s the biggest area for improvement. But it does help that she has that lefty slice, and it gives opponents trouble.”

Wozniacki also liked the Rafael Nadal Academy graduate’s approach to her fans, as she diligently signs autographs and makes time to take pictures.

In fact, Eala held a rare meet-and-greet event last Wednesday in Makati City, where Filipinos had the chance to have their pictures taken with the world No. 28 star courtesy of Globe, one of her benefactors.

“I like her attitude, I like the way that she has a great tennis IQ and I think we’re going to see her for many, many more years,” Wozniacki said.

Another former world No. 1, 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick, said Eala’s influence isn’t a fluke and that her rise is something that cannot be ignored.

“Eala-mania is fun! I’m sorry, when you have watch parties in arenas around your country for a fourth-round match, I’m in,” Roddick said.

“Imagine, wherever you live, whatever the biggest venue is closest to you, imagine having watch parties for a fourth-round match at Wimbledon and having no room. I am here for Eala-mania. It’s great for tennis!”

Roddick, 43, said Eala’s rise cannot be ignored as she continues her climb to the top, beating players ranked higher than her in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

“I don’t want to hear any of that b******t, like, ‘I don’t care, stop talking…’ No! This is a movement she is single-handedly creating, a movement of a sect of tennis fandom that largely didn’t exist a couple of years ago,” Roddick said.

“She’s top 30, beating players at majors. It went from a fun story to a very real story and a phenomenon.”

Eala is set to begin her North American hard-court campaign on 27 July when she competes in the Washington Open, a WTA 500 even