(UPDATE) UNABLE to get past the first round at both the Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Filipino tennis hotshot Alex Eala hopes to finally chalk up that first major win at the US Open in New York City, Monday midnight in Manila.

Making her main draw debut at the final Grand Slam of the year, Eala faces Danish Clara Tauson at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at 12:40 a.m., barring any delay.

At least on paper, Eala’s search for that breakthrough win faces strong opposition with Tauson being ranked 15 in the world and a three-time WTA champion.

While taking down top-tier players isn’t new to world No. 70 Eala, adding Tauson to her victim list of No. 2 Iga Swiatek, No. 6 Madison Keys, and No. 27 Jelena Ostapenko isn’t as easy as it looks.

Rustiness could hinder Eala this time, as the 20-year-old hasn’t had a competitive game in 27 days or since her first round, 6-3, 1-6, 2-6, loss to Czech Marketa Vondrousova at the National Bank Open in Canada on July 28.

Eala sustained a left shoulder injury from that match and it kept her from making a proper buildup for the US Open through the Cincinnati Open and the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey, Mexico.

On the other hand, momentum is Tauson’s friend. She reached the National Bank Open semis and Cincinnati Masters round of 32, where she yielded to Russian Veronika Kudermetova, 6-3, 4-6 (4-7), 4-6.

Eala kicks off US Open campaign, aims for breakthrough win in New York

After the US Open, which will end on Sept. 8, Eala will go back-to-back to compete at the Sao Paulo Open, which will end on Sept. 14.

Eala is already in the list of the 32-player field alongside a familiar foe in American Hailey Baptiste., This news data comes from:http://www.redcanaco.com

The lefty Eala defeated American and world No. 49 Baptiste at the Eastbourne Open in London last June, when she became the first Filipino player to reach the final of a WTA tournament.