She kicked off her season with a semifinal finish in the WTA 125 Workday Canberra International in January. In reaching her first Challenger final four, she pocketed $9,955 (around P560,000).
After a string of early exits in her next six tournaments, she finally broke through in the WTA 1000 Miami Open. She defeated three Grand Slam champions on her way to the semifinals, her best ever finish in the WTA tour.
Not only did Eala make history as the first ever Filipino to reach the singles semifinals of a pro tour event in the Open era, she also gained $332,000 or around P19 million.
Eala followed it up with a second-round appearance in the WTA 1000 Madrid Open, which translated to earnings of €30,895 (P2.05 million).
Prior to Wimbledon, she added to her long list of records when she made the finals of the WTA 250 Eastbourne Open, making her the first Filipino to reach the singles finals in the tour. Her runner-up finish came with a cash prize of £57,369 (around P4.4 million).
The 20-year-old Eala has so far earned more in seven months in 2025 than in her four years of playing in the pro tour from 2021-2024. She has amassed $659,467 (P37.6 million) in 2025 alone, making up for more than half of her career earnings, which now total $1,117,888 (P63.7 million).
All these, however, are still gross earnings. The prize money of tennis players is taxed, the rate of which will depend on the country where the tournament is held. Wimbledon prize money is reportedly taxed as much as 40-45%. The Madrid Open earnings are said to be taxed between 19-24%.
Players also have to pay the members of their team. Compared to the established stars of the game who employ five to six people, Eala still has a lean team made up of coaches Sandro Viaene and Joan Bosch, plus fitness/medical doctor Lluc Bauza.
The cost to travel to numerous tournaments in different countries, often three to four times a month, especially with a team in tow, can also be exorbitant, eating into the earnings of the players.
WTA events typically provide free accommodations and meals for players, but the other members of the team are not covered, hence, the cost will be an out-of-pocket expense for Eala.
The top line numbers from the prize money earned may look good, but there are necessary costs in the life of a professional tennis player like Eala.
It helps that she has sponsors who can help defray her expenses. But overall, it still is a profitable venture for Eala, whose earnings will continue to grow this year especially since the season has now shifted to her favorite hardcourt surface. – Rappler.Com