Newly-crowned US Open junior champion Alex Eala believes the funding she gets from the International Tennis Federation goes a long way in her “costly” overseas campaign.
“I get Grand Slam development funds. They fund me a portion of my expenses and it has helped me a lot because it’s costly doing this lifestyle,” Eala said during a radio interview yesterday.
“Any help is good for me and it does make a difference.”
Last January, Eala received $25,000 (P1.2 million), money she used in her pursuit to improve on her game.
The Grand Slam Player Development Programme Committee selects players based on age and ranking.
Grand Slam champions Li Na of China, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Simona Halep of Romania used to receive funding from the program.
ITF president David Haggerty said in a statement that the program will do whatever it can to help budding players blossom into world-class stars.
“At the heart of our development goals is that any player with talent, no matter where they live or what resources they have available to them, will have the chance to fulfil their potential,” Haggerty said.
Eala is set to compete in two professional matches in California this month before going back to the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain.
