Alex Eala is guaranteed another huge payday even before hitting a single ball at the US Open.

The 21-year-old Filipina star will pocket $140,000, or roughly P8.6 million, simply for appearing in the main draw of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, which starts on 30 August at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

The US Open recently announced its record prize money, with the women’s singles champion set to take home a staggering $5.5 million, or around P339 million.

Should Eala match or surpass her performance from last year by reaching the second round, her earnings will jump to $190,000, or approximately P11.7 million.

Eala earned $154,000, or P8.79 million, after reaching the second round of the US Open last year — her first Grand Slam main draw victory as a professional.

There will also be more money at stake for the rising Filipina sensation as she is set to compete in the mixed doubles event alongside Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The pair is guaranteed to share $35,000, or around P2.1 million, simply for entering the mixed doubles main draw, with the prize increasing as they advance in the tournament.

Eala’s biggest payday so far came during her historic Wimbledon campaign last July, where she reached the Round of 16 and earned around P24.3 million.

She also pocketed roughly P19 million for reaching the semifinals of the Miami Open before collecting around P15.4 million after capturing her first Women’s Tennis Association title at the Washington Open earlier this month.

But beyond the lucrative prize money, the US Open will also offer Eala another opportunity to climb the world rankings.

The Filipina is poised to reach a new career-high of No. 18 in the WTA rankings heading into New York, putting her in position to receive a favorable seeding and potentially avoid some of the tournament’s biggest names in the early rounds.

Expectations are high following her historic Wimbledon run, and some of the sport’s biggest names believe Eala has what it takes to make another deep push.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, who teamed up with Eala in doubles at the Bad Homburg Open and the Canadian Open, said the Filipina has the temperament to thrive under pressure.

“It was amazing to play under the lights. I think we both thrive in pressure situations and, you know, Alex is a world star. She’s just incredible and besides the fact of her tennis, she’s an incredible person, well-spoken, and just an impressive young lady,” Williams said.

“I like being around those kinds of things. I think we both lift each other up.”

Former world No. 1 Jimmy Connors was equally impressed with Eala’s aggressive style, particularly her ability to take the ball early and attack her opponents.

“I like the way that she plays. She is left-handed, she takes the ball early, she is not afraid to be aggressive on the returns and in the way she plays,” Connors said.

“It is very refreshing to see that from her and she is knocking on the door. Keep knocking on those tournaments and good things will happen. It’s already started for her.”