Serena Williams’ coach Rennae Stubbs has dismissed calls from Filipino tennis fans for Alex Eala to play the WTA Finals. It’s worth noting that Eala, the current World No. 20, has not qualified for the prestigious year-end event and, at the same time, all eight available singles spots for the tournament have been filled.

Qualification for the WTA Finals is secured by players who finish in the top eight spots in the race to the year-end event. In 2026, Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova, and Linda Noskova have qualified to contest for the year-end crown in Indian Wells in November.

Stubbs claimed on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast that Eala’s fans’ behavior is an example of ‘internet stan culture’, i.e., a digital phenomenon referring to the behavior and community around extreme, hyper-dedicated fan bases that fervently support a public figure. The Australian former doubles No. 1 and current coach of the legendary Williams said:

“Jon Wertheim (prominent tennis insider) has gotten into this little thing online about people saying ‘Alex Eala should be part of the WTA Finals,’ and he’s like, ‘That is not how it works.’ And of course he realised because of course I said one thing about Alex Eala once about her serve maybe being the thing that will cost her a major title, which I still kind of believe. This is it (internet Stan culture) at its best.”

Stubbs went on to cite the example of Iga Swiatek, the former World No. 1 who failed to qualify for the WTA Finals. Stubbs fact-checked Eala’s fans by stating that popularity is not enough for a player to secure qualification, and added:

“Talking about people saying, ‘Alex Eala is the most popular player in the world; she should get a spot in the WTA Finals’. I am like, ‘Guys, popularity is not what gets you in’. Poland would like for Iga Swiatek to be in the WTA Finals as well.”

Alex Eala is in action at Ningbo Open; Filipino WTA star won her maiden career singles title earlier this year

At the time of writing, Alex Eala is competing at the WTA 500 Ningbo Open. Unseeded at the tournament, the 21-year-old got her campaign underway in fine fashion, as she dispatched Diane Parry of France 6-3, 6-1 to progress to the second round.

Up next for Eala is a daunting second-round challenge against No. 6 seed and 2026 Roland Garros semifinalist Diana Shnaider. It is set to be an all-lefty battle and their first tour-level meeting. Shnaider is the favorite on paper to progress to the third round.

Earlier this year, Eala won her maiden WTA Tour-level title in Washington, where she shocked home favorite Jessica Pegula in a rain-delayed final.