Alex Eala has delivered a clear verdict in the long-running debate over the greatest women's tennis player of all time. In an interview with Channel News Asia, the 21-year-old didn't leave much room for interpretation. 

"Serena is just the greatest of all time," Eala said. "And Maria is someone I've looked up to ever since I was a baby."

Eala's admiration for both players comes from different chapters of tennis history. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, defined an era through power, longevity, and relentless competitiveness. Sharapova, a five-time major winner, burst onto the scene as a teenager and became one of the sport's most recognizable faces.

Their head-to-head history tilted overwhelmingly toward Williams. After Sharapova pulled off two early wins, most famously the 2004 Wimbledon final as a 17-year-old, followed by a win at the WTA Finals, Williams responded by winning their next 19 straight meetings, closing out the rivalry with a 20-2 record. 

Eala, who adores both these athletes,  as is evident from the interview with Channel News Asia as posted on Instagram, was born in 2005. She never actually saw Sharapova beat Williams live, yet both players clearly left a mark on how she grew to understand the sport.

Eala will next represent the Philippines at the Asian Games before heading to the WTA 1000 event in Wuhan. Whether a future doubles pairing with Serena ever happens remains to be seen.

By naming Williams the GOAT while keeping Sharapova close to her heart, Eala reflected the view of a new generation shaped by both champions.

Eala’s partnership with the older Williams

Eala's appreciation for Williams has gone beyond admiration this year. She partnered with Venus Williams in doubles at the Bad Homburg Open and in Toronto, reaching the quarterfinals in Bad Homburg before falling in the round of 32 in Canada. 

Those matches gave her a firsthand look at the mentality that helped shape the Williams sisters' legacy.

"Of course, this year, having had the pleasure to play doubles twice with Venus, I've learned a lot about her mentality on court," Eala said, as per a Sports Bible article. "There are so many stories behind the scenes that you might not even realise. So that really keeps me humble. It keeps me motivated to work harder and be among and stay among these incredible people."

Venus returned the compliment, describing Eala as "a world star" after their time playing together, an endorsement that carries real weight coming from a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion for a player still establishing herself on tour.

Eala has also spoken before about how special it's felt to compete during the same era as Serena, even with the American's appearances limited in 2026. Williams returned briefly for grass-court doubles with Venus and accepted a wildcard into Wimbledon, where she exited in the first round. For Eala, just being on tour at the same time has meant something.

Do you think Serena Williams' dominance over Sharapova should settle the GOAT debate for good? 

Written by

Zaid Quraishi