Alex Eala is still at the formative stages of her career, but she is already closing in on a big prize money breakthrough.
The Filipina hero has created a huge stir in tennis since he breakthrough week at the Miami Open last year, with her story going to a whole new level over the last few weeks.
Eala was rising up the tennis rankings as she won the Birmingham Open on a grass court in June and she then enjoyed her best run at a Grand Slam as she reached the last-16 at Wimbledon, beating defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round.
She backed that up by lifting her first WTA Tour title in Washington, beating an impressive list of opponents to take that crown.
Eala beat Olympic champion Wang Xinyu, defending Washington champion Leylah Fernandez, the dangerous Elina Svitolina and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka before she overcame Jessica Pegula in the final.
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The Washington title success earned her prize money of $252,000, which took her career total up to $2,901,015.
Eala will break through the $3m barrier soon and she will have a chance to move up the all-time prize money list rapidly if she continues her current form.
Her bank balance is certain to be boosted by huge sponsorship deals that will now come her way on the back of her ongoing success, with the offers certain to flow her way as she emerges as one of the biggest names on the WTA Tour.
Eala’s form and presence in the sport is being saluted by the great and good of the game, with former US Open champion Andy Roddick among her biggest admirers.
“She’s not scared to play the top players. There’s no doubt,” Roddick said on his Served podcast.
“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.
“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.
“Everyone in tennis should be cheering for her, right? And you [could] say, like, ‘don’t pick favourites, don’t cheer for her’, sure… I’m cheering for markets,” said the American.
“If we could bring hundreds of millions of people because she’s playing, well, then I’m going to cheer for that because it’s better for tennis.
“I know some people might bristle and be like, ‘listen, she hasn’t won a Slam. What are we doing?’ No, but she’s literally carrying hundreds of millions of fans to our sport and saying, you’re die-hards now. This is great for the sport.
“It doesn’t mean you like her more than… I love Jessica Pegula. All I’m saying is that I want to see Eala consistently do well because of what an impact she will have on the game if she does that.
“Not all impacts are the same with players. Eala winning a Slam is more than someone else winning a Slam. That’s just the way it works. We’re lucky in tennis to have her. We should continue to support the story.
“And listen, none of this s*** happens and no one cares if she’s not winning stuff. So, this is great.”
READ NEWS: Alex Eala’s ranking, prize money, sponsors and her next tournament
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