Andy Roddick has explained why some players are struggling to deal with Alex Eala’s relatively “slow” serve.

The Filipina’s rise into the top 20 has sparked a huge debate about whether or not she can win a Grand Slam with a serve that is outside the top 50 for aces and first and second serve win percentage.

Serena Williams’ coach Rennae Stubbs initially said that the 21-year-old could not win a major with her first and second delivery but has since softened on that view after her Washington Open triumph.

Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski does feel she needs to improve her serve but thinks with time, she can shore up that shot a great deal. Now, one of the best servers of all time, in Roddick, has commented on this hot topic.

The 2003 US Open champion said that Eala – whose first serve can reach around 100mph but her second is often between 60-75mph – is so good at “crushing” the next ball after her serve, therefore you need to do a lot more with the return.

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The left-hander’s ball-striking ability often gets her out of trouble but by taking pace off her second serve in particular, it can flummox the opposition.

On Roddick‘s Q&Andy show on Thursday, the American was asked if we could see more WTA players intentionally adding slower serves or preparing specifically to receive them as part of their match strategy.

He responded on the latest episode of Served, “Here’s the difference. It’s not just anybody goes out there and hits a slow serve and they get away with it. It’s Eala’s ability to crush the next ball if you don’t square up that return.

“I was a returner who had a hard time creating pace on a slow second serve. Like I used to play Mardy [Fish] and he’d hit this little bunny 81mph kick serve where I had all day, but he knew that I couldn’t bruise him off the back end side. Right?

“Therefore he wasn’t in a rush to hit it. So the difference is it’s not just making the serve or hitting a good return. It’s against Eala. If you don’t square it up, she’s able to hit that middle ball, both directions, with pace on the next shot.”

Roddick added that if you serve slowly, without much spin on it, to an Iga Swiatek, she will punish you. However, when Eala beat the Pole at Wimbledon, she struggled with the youngster’s slower delivery.

The former world No 1 continued, “You can’t take someone who doesn’t have Eala’s ball striking ability or ability to hit directionally to the corners and just say, ‘I’m going to serve slower against Iga Swiatek’. Welcome to your death.

“Like that’s not the way it works. It’s being able to create enough pace to offset what Eala is trying to do on that next ball. I think Eala’s serve or second serve, especially, is probably more effective with the slower version than if it was 10mph faster.

“Like I think she’s starting to kind of figure out how to use it as well and maybe not being obsessed with pace, but like, ‘I’m going to throw you this one and you better hit it’. You better hit it firm. Otherwise you’re going for a ride on the next ball.”

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