CHICAGO - With her ongoing campaign at Indian Wells, Alex Eala isn’t just racking up precious ranking points, she is also raking in serious cash.
Through to the fourth round after dispatching world No.3 Coco Gauff, the Philippine tennis sensation is now guaranteed to take home $105,720 or roughly P6.2 million.
If she advances to the quarterfinals her pay bumps up to $193,645 which is equivalent to P11.2 million, per the World Tennis Association (WTA).
READ: Alex Eala gladly plays her role as tennis gains new eyeballs
But first, she must hurdle Linda Noskova.
The 14-ranked Noskova hails from the Czech Republic, a nation with a rich tennis tennis tradition and has birthed iconic players such as Martina Navritilova, Hana Mandlikova and the late Jana Novotna.
DIFFICULT OPPONENT.
The 5-foot-10 Noskova wields a powerful serve and is tenacious from the baseline. Her favorite go-to stroke is the backhand doen-the-line, per a scouting report.
Noskova, who was previously ranked 12 in the world, will be a difficult out.
But Eala had slain bigger giants before, including world No.2 Igs Swiatek at last year’s Miami Open where she first burst as a riskng star in the women’s side.
It helps that the hardcourt is Eala’s favorite surface where she can unleash her dangerously heavy topspin forehands with reckless abandon.
SHE GOT GAME.
31st in the world, the 20-year old Pinay also has an elite service return and impeccable ground strokes in the arsenal.
And if Eala were to ‘Czech mate’ the also 20-year-old Noskova, the Filipina will have to summon the mental composure and fighting spirit that has defined her young career.
Since the BNP Paribas-sponsored Indian Wells is a Masters 1000 event, a deeper tournament run ensures Eala an improved ranking next week.
There’s also the richer rewards that await.
Which includes $340,190 for a place in the semifinals, $612,340 for a finals berth and a cool $1.15 million ($67.8) for a championship.
Do what you love and the money will follow, so says an adage.
That’s exactly what Alex Eala is doing, turning a lifelong passion into a rewarding livelihood.
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