FiILIPINA tennis star Alex Eala is rapidly becoming one of the most commercially valuable athletes in the world, with her representatives projecting that she could rank second among the highest-paid female athletes by 2027.
Max Eisenbud, head of client representation at WME Sports and IMG Tennis, told Forbes that he expects Eala to trail only American star Coco Gauff in earnings among female athletes next year.
“I feel very confident that by 2027, she will be the second-highest-paid female athlete in the world, behind Coco [Gauff],” Eisenbud said.
Eala’s growing marketability has already translated into substantial off-court earnings. Forbes estimated that the 20-year-old earned more than $5 million from endorsements and other commercial activities over the past 12 months, compared with around $1.7 million in prize money during the 2026 season.
Major Philippine companies are among those investing heavily in Eala’s rising profile.
Globe Telecom and Bank of the Philippine Islands, both controlled by the Zobel family, renewed their sponsorship agreements with Eala early this year through new four-year deals. Eala’s parents previously worked for the two companies.
According to Forbes, each deal provides for more than $1 million annually in exchange for branding on Eala’s Nike apparel, although the report did not clarify whether the figure applies to each sponsor individually or to the combined agreements.
Eala’s endorsement portfolio has been carefully developed by IMG since her breakthrough victory at the 2022 US Open junior championships. Rather than pursuing short-term promotional deals, the agency has focused on establishing long-term partnerships around her growing career.
The strategy has gained further momentum as Eala continues to climb the international rankings. She is currently ranked No. 18 in the world, making her one of the most prominent young players on the women’s tour.
Eisenbud said Eala’s commercial value has reached a point where $1 million is now the starting price for companies seeking an endorsement deal with the Filipino tennis star.
With her ranking, international profile and sponsorship portfolio continuing to grow, Eala is positioned for a significant increase in earnings as she enters the next stage of her career. (Adrian Co)
