MANILA, Philippines - Normal six-year-olds spend their childhood running around the playground — well, that is if they don’t have dreams of becoming tennis stars in the future. With an unconventional childhood behind him, Francis Casey “Niño” Alcantara did not spend his lazy afternoons climbing monkey bars like the other kids. He spent his in another playground — on a tennis court with a racket in tow. Guided by his dad, young Niño discovered his penchant for the sport at the age of six.
Niño’s road to tennis stardom started after he was discovered by sports philanthropist and businessman Jean Henri Lhuillier back in 2006. “When I saw him play, I instantly knew that this kid has the makings of a world-class tennis player. I was very keen on training him because I found him very promising,” says Lhuillier.
After his meeting with Lhuillier, Niño Alcantara’s rise in the ranks of international tennis stardom became fast-tracked. The sports philanthropist commissioned two-time Davis Cupper Jun Toledo to personally attend to his tennis training. And before Niño knew it, he had already made history by being the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam title in the Australian Open, putting the Philippines at par with other countries. After his impressive showing in the tournament, his International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings upped from No. 29 to No. 18.
However, despite Niño’s popularity these days, he still rushes to Cagayan de Oro after every tournament so he can attend his senior high school classes. “People joke that I am the only junior player in the world’s top 30 who is still in school. But I just laugh at it because I know that school is just as important as sports,” says Alcantara.
Meanwhile, Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed his pride for the young tennis star who has made such an impact on the country. “By helping out a great athlete such as Niño, I hope to inspire more Filipino kids to pursue their dreams in sports.”
Also renowned for managing various sports teams in the country such as the Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team, Philippine Men’s and Women’s Softball Teams, and the Philippine Tennis Team — Lhuillier shares that his affinity for athletics started when he was studying abroad. “Living in a boarding school provided a perfect opportunity for me to build ties through sports. It taught me the values of teamwork and fair play, which incidentally also became fundamental for me as an entrepreneur.”
By providing a positive role model like Niño, Lhuillier hopes to see more Filipinos have the spirit to take the international sports scene by storm. “I always say that you should put your skills and the talents to good use because not all people are blessed with it,” concludes Lhuillier.