The tennis world has gone gaga over Alex Eala.

Icons and former champions believe the 21-year-old Eala’s victory at the Washington Open last week, along with the impact she has made despite already competing in the Canadian Open, proves that she is already regarded as one of the elite players to watch on the Women’s Tennis Association Tour.

For 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick, Eala’s fearlessness makes her one of the deadliest players on tour as she approaches every opponent the same way regardless of ranking.

Eala is battling world No. 70 Caty McNally of the United States in the Round of 16 at the Sobeys Stadium in Toronto at press time following a masterful performance in the Washington Open and an opening-round victory over Alycia Parks.

“She’s not scared to play the top players. There’s no doubt and I mean, she’s sneaky — we’re talking four spots away from being seeded in the top 16. That’s the next goal for her,” said Roddick, the former No. 1 player in the Association of Tennis Professionals ranking.

“Can we put up a couple of results in Canada and Cincinnati and sneak inside that top 16 where a fourth round is expected and not a surprise to anyone? Massive, massive props to her, she’s so much fun.”

Meanwhile, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan sees Eala’s rise as something that is mutually beneficial for tennis as she helps the sport grow.

“Like, I think she’s playing late tonight and some of them were on my court cheering for me. I just felt really grateful. So, it’s so cool that she’s building a new community,” said Osaka, whom Eala had beaten in the semifinals of the Washington Open.

“And then obviously her fans probably, like, watch tennis enough now to have other favorites too. So, I think it’s amazing, and obviously great for the tournament, because she sells a lot of tickets.”

Former world No. 9 Andrea Petkovic of Germany said she sees flashes of 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in Eala’s game.

“Well, she reminds me, I said it on air, she reminds me a lot of Eugenie Bouchard when she was at her very best, plus some added elements, although some people forget that Genie used to be very good at coming to the net,” Petkovic said.

“People blocked that out completely. But Genie would take the ball so early. She would go up the line the moment she could and then try to transition to the net. The one thing Alex has a little bit better is that she has much better angles and she has the drop shot, right?”