Alex Eala’s path to a deeper run could get even better after Canadian rising star Victoria Mboko withdrew from the main draw of the US Open on Tuesday (Manila time).

With world No. 15 Mboko pulling out, Eala could move up to the No. 17 seed when the last Grand Slam event of the year begins on Sunday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.

The 21-year-old Eala is already enjoying a career-best No. 18 ranking in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) standings, but the additional seeding boost could give her a more favorable path in the early rounds.

As of press time, Eala is also busy in the mixed doubles event, teaming up with Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime against world No. 9 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and her French husband, Gael Monfils.

But Eala’s biggest target remains the singles draw, where she is determined to surpass her second-round finish in last year’s US Open.

“I’m coming for you,” Eala posted on social media ahead of the lucrative event that dangles a record-breaking prize pool of $108 million — or around P6.7 billion.

The Filipina star enters New York brimming with confidence after her North American swing that included her first WTA title at the Washington Open earlier this month as well as strong runs in the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open that gave her valuable experience on hard courts.

A higher seeding could prove crucial as Eala looks to build momentum before potentially facing the bigger names in the later rounds.

In fact, she was seeded No. 29 in the Wimbledon Championship last July but coasted all the way to the Last 16 after hammering crucial wins over Renata Zarazua, Maya Joint and defending champion Iga Swiatek, making her the first Filipina to reach that far in the Open era.

Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski believes Eala has the game and mentality to go even further in New York.

“So, she’s on the cusp. She’s the first Filipina to make the fourth round of a major, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s in the quarters or semis. She’s that good. I think the mentality is second to none,” Rusedski said.

“I look between the ears, having coached and worked on tour in the men’s and the women’s, the most important (thing), because everybody can play, but it’s a swagger, it’s the belief, it’s in between the ears, it’s the intensity.”

Grand Slam-winning coach Rick Macci, meanwhile, believes Eala’s left-handed game and unorthodox serve could make her particularly dangerous on the New York hard courts.

“Players now will attack her second serve even though it has a tricky slow lefty curve. Matchups mean a lot with a certain style but she plays the ball so her game is more opponent proof to go an extra mile,” Macci said.

“Her best surface is hard court so it is a snapshot for her career, but she has to always remember this is a game from ear to ear.”

With a possible No. 17 seeding now within reach, Eala could enter the US Open with an even clearer runway toward another historic campaign.