Alex Eala will enter the US Open as the No. 17 seed, the highest seeding of her career in a Grand Slam tournament, but she will have to wait for the completion of the women’s qualifying draw to learn her first-round opponent.

The world No. 18 was placed in the women’s singles main draw as the 17th seed after the US Open draw was released Thursday in New York. She will face a qualifier in the opening round.

Eala, who is making her second appearance in the US Open women’s main draw, reached the second round last year after earning her first Grand Slam main-draw victory.

Should the Filipina advance this year, she will meet the winner of the first-round match between Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova and American wildcard Reese Brantmeier.

Before beginning her singles campaign, Alex Eala fell to good friend Iva Jovic, 6-3, in the “Stars of the Open” exhibition match at the US Open on Thursday in New York, or Friday morning in the Philippines.

The exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium served as a tune-up for both players ahead of their respective US Open women’s singles campaigns. The event also featured other tennis stars and benefited the USTA Foundation.

The US Open women’s singles main draw begins Aug. 30 in Flushing Meadows, New York.