Alex Eala is on the verge of yet another career milestone following an opening-round victory over American qualifier Mary Stoiana in the women’s singles event of the US Open at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York on Wednesday.

Based on the live ranking of the Women’s Tennis Association, the 21-year-old Filipina is projected to rise to her career-best No. 16 after making short work of Stoiana — the 25-year-old former National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I champion who is seeing action in the US Open for the first time in her career.

Eala’s victory also assured her of $190,000 — or roughly P11.8 million — after advancing to the second round of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Prior to the US Open, Eala made a strong run in the North American hard-court swing, prompting her to become the first Southeast Asian to rise to No. 18 in the world.

Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski believes one of the biggest factors behind Eala’s rapid rise has been the guidance of Toni Nadal, the uncle and longtime mentor of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.