ALEXANDRA “Alex” Eala is set to become the highest-seeded Filipino singles player in a major at the US Open.
After her third-round finish at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open, Eala is on pace to hit a new career-high No. 18 as the live rankings showed on Wednesday.
The official rankings update on Aug. 24 will determine the top and only 32 seeds in the US Open.
The US Open main draw matches will run from Aug. 30 to Sept. 13.
Even if Eala stays at her official rank No. 20 or drop a few notches next week, she will still become the highest seeded Philippine singles player in a Grand Slam tournament
Her previous best was the No. 29 seed in Wimbledon, where she made history as the first Filipino seeded singles player in a Grand Slam tournament.
Eala also went on to become the first Filipino singles player to reach the fourth round of the London grass major.
Several players behind Eala in the live rankings have already been eliminated in Cincinnati, where she claimed her highest seeding in a 1000-tier tournament at No. 17.
Since the lefty isn’t also defending any points there, a significant drop in the rankings next week is not in play.
Claiming a first-round bye in Cincinnati, Eala defeated Romanian Elena Gabriela-Ruse in the second round (round of 64), 6-1, 3-0 (ret.) before falling to American Amanda Anisimova in the third, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, on Tuesday.
Eala bagged $47,375, or more than P2.9 million, for her third-round (round of 32) finish.
In the US Open, Eala will also play in the mixed doubles with ATP No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
