'Super happy and thankful': Niño Alcantara on his love for tennis and being the team 'kuya'

It was "raining in Nagoya" when I first met Filipino tennis player Francis "Niño" Alcantara. It may sound like a playful reference to a popular Filipino song, but it was literally raining cats and dogs that day.

The heavy downpour had forced the organizers of the 2026 Asian Games to repeatedly adjust the venues and schedules of tennis matches at the Higashiyama Koen Tennis Center in Nagoya, Japan.

With several matches delayed, members of the Philippine tennis team were walking around the tennis center, waiting for their turn to compete.

That was when I met Niño, one of the Philippines' top doubles players, together with other members of the national team, including his mixed doubles partner Shaira Hope Rivera and head coach Denise Dy.

Despite the bad weather, the uncertainty surrounding their matches, and the pressure of competing at the Asian Games, Niño was smiling when I introduced myself.

He was warm, kind, and unassuming, carrying an unmistakable sense of calm and grace, despite having already achieved so much for Philippine tennis.

A longtime member of the Philippine national tennis team, Niño has represented the country in numerous prestigious international competitions. Among his achievements are a gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila and a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, an achievement he proudly shares with Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala, his mixed doubles partner.

He also made history early in his career, becoming the first Filipino junior Grand Slam champion when he won the boys' doubles title at the 2009 Australian Open.

But beyond the medals, titles, and years of representing the country, I would soon discover that there was much more to Niño's story.

After he reached the Round of 16 in mixed doubles alongside Rivera at the 2026 Asian Games, I had the opportunity to speak with Niño about his experience.

Although this was already his third Asian Games, he admitted that competing in Nagoya felt different and, in many ways, surreal.

"And at the same time, you know, it was kind of weird because I only played mixed doubles. I usually play doubles on tour. And mixed doubles, okay, it was a bonus, but you know, I'm still very thankful that they included me, even if for mixed doubles with Shaira," Niño shared.

But there was something far more personal that made this particular Asian Games unlike any other competition he had experienced.

Just three days before leaving for Nagoya, Niño had become a father.

For the first time in his career, he was representing the Philippines not only as a tennis player, but also as a new dad.

"That was super special," Niño shared. "It was my first time playing as a dad. It was something different that I didn't expect. It was a very surreal moment for me."

While welcoming his first child was one of the happiest moments of his life, Niño admitted that leaving his wife and newborn son behind, just days after the baby's birth, was an incredibly difficult decision.

"It was very tough. You know, I had to ask my wife if she would let me go and compete for the Asian Games. I'm so happy that she's very supportive. And she was like, 'Yeah, of course, you have to do it.' And leaving her alone with my baby was a very tough choice for me to make."

It was a deeply personal sacrifice, made possible by the understanding and encouragement of his wife.

For Niño, representing the Philippines has always been an honor. But this time, every match carried an even deeper meaning.

He was no longer playing solely for himself or the country. He was also playing for the family he had just started.

"And if I do good, I get a medal, you know, it's for you and for the baby and for the country. So, you know, it's a different motivation now, you know, because I have a baby. But everything is the same still. Like, you know, my hunger and passion for the game is still the same."

Chasing the dream

And although leaving his family was painful, being away from loved ones to pursue his dreams is something Niño has known almost his entire life.

Long before he became a father, an Asian Games medalist, or a Grand Slam champion, Niño was simply a young boy from Cagayan de Oro, dreaming of a future in tennis.

At just 11 or 12 years old, he had to leave his hometown, his family and the familiar comforts of childhood to move to Manila and train.

The goal was to improve his skills, compete internationally, and eventually earn a college scholarship in the United States.

Like many Filipino athletes who pursue their dreams, Niño learned early that talent and determination often come with difficult sacrifices.

When I asked him about the challenges he had gone through and what it took to reach this point in his career, he spoke candidly about the childhood he had to leave behind.

"I think it was leaving my family when I was so young, like maybe 11 or 12 years old. I left CDO to move to Manila to train. So, I think that was one of the factors that was super heavy for me. And also, like the sacrifices that I made, like, you know, not being around my family, not being around my friends, my classmates. So I kind of missed most of my high school life because of tennis."

While many children his age were spending time with friends, attending school activities, and making memories with their families, Niño was already learning the discipline and sacrifices required of a young athlete.

He missed much of what most people would consider an ordinary childhood, but those sacrifices also opened doors that once seemed far beyond his reach.

Niño recalled how several individuals believed in his potential and helped him pursue opportunities that his family could not have afforded on its own.

"Mr. Rommie Chan, he was my sponsor, and Mr. Lhuillier and Mr. Hilado, they were my sponsors when I was in juniors. So, their plan was for me to compete, represent the Philippines, and get a scholarship in the US. So, it never crossed my mind that I would be a professional tennis player."

He continued: "So, you know, I traveled, played all the Grand Slams, all the junior tournaments around the world, and luckily I got to like number 14 in the world, and I won a junior Grand Slam. So, you know, with that, I had so many college offers from the US. So maybe like more than 30 different Division I schools."

Looking back, Niño acknowledges the many things he missed growing up in Cagayan de Oro, particularly the years he could have spent with his family, classmates, and childhood friends.

But he has no regrets.

Instead, he chooses to remember the opportunities, the people who supported him, and the sense of fulfillment that came with pursuing something bigger than himself.

"I had no regrets that I did because, you know, I'm still good friends with the people back home. And you know, I was doing it not just for myself, but I did it for my family, for the country."

For Niño, every achievement was something he could share with the people who helped him along the way.

"My win is their win as well. So, you know, I'm super happy and thankful for all the people behind."

Niño Alcantara was a new dad at the Asian Games in Nagoya, as well as the 'kuya' to his teammates. JP Soriano/ GMA News

If there is one thing he sometimes wonders about, it is whether he could have pursued singles tennis for a longer period after college.

"Maybe I could have played more singles after college, but I got injured in my shoulder, so that's why I kind of stopped playing. So I wanted to preserve my body more, and so I can play longer in doubles."

Even then, Niño remains grateful for the career he has built and the opportunities he continues to receive.

"Besides that, I'm super grateful that I got this opportunity to compete, travel, and represent the country. And I would like to thank my sponsors today. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do all this."

At the 2026 Asian Games, Niño was also reunited with fellow Filipino tennis players, including Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala, who eventually won a bronze medal in women's singles.

The team kuya

He has known Alex since she was a little girl, long before she became an internationally recognized WTA player.

And having witnessed her journey from a young tennis prospect to one of the country's most prominent athletes, Niño expressed genuine pride in what she has accomplished.

"With Alex, you know, I've known her since she was like, what, six, no, seven, eight years old," Niño recalled.

But beyond watching Alex grow as an athlete, Niño said there was something particularly special about being reunited with fellow Filipino tennis players at the Asian Games.

Unlike athletes in many team sports, professional tennis players often travel around the world independently, competing in different tournaments and following their own schedules.

For Niño and his teammates, opportunities to spend time together, share experiences, and simply enjoy each other's company are not always easy to come by.

And perhaps that is what made the Philippine tennis team's camaraderie in Nagoya so meaningful.

"I think it's because we're tennis players. We do our own things. We travel on our own. Like, we barely get to see other Pinoys on tour. And so once we're all together, it's so much fun."

For Niño, the Asian Games was not just about competing for medals. It was also about enjoying the rare opportunity to be surrounded by people who shared the same language, culture, experiences, and pride in representing the Philippines.

He was especially happy for Alex, whose bronze medal became one of the highlights of the Philippine tennis team's campaign.

"As for Alex, you know, she's done so much for us, as we all know, and you know, it was always nice to see her play again and, you know, get a medal for us. Because she was the only one who got a medal for tennis this time."

Niño also acknowledged the disappointment of falling short of their goals, but there was no bitterness in the way he spoke about their campaign. "But yeah, we all did our best. We all did our part. It was just not meant to be this time."

Despite their individual careers and accomplishments, the players found a sense of family in one another.

As one of the veterans of the team, Niño fondly embraced his role as the "kuya" to his younger teammates.

"I was the kuya in the team. I was the only guy. It was like four little girls with me. And it was fun. It was fun being around them."

He added that these moments are particularly precious because, on the professional tour, he rarely gets to spend time with other Filipino players.

"Usually when I'm on tour, I'm the only Pinoy. I never get to see Alex because she's playing in different tournaments. But it's always fun to travel and hang out and just be around a lot of Filipinos while competing."

And even after years of playing for the country, Niño still finds joy in these simple moments of friendship, laughter, and togetherness.

At 34, Niño believes he still has plenty of tennis left in him. He remains committed to competing at the 2027 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia and hopes to continue playing professionally for as long as his body allows.

He also dreams of representing the Philippines in one more Asian Games, although he acknowledges that much will depend on his physical condition in the coming years.

"End of November, I'll be in Singapore and Thailand to play some tournaments, maybe like two or three weeks. And then Christmas, and then back again with the long grind next year."

"It's always fun to travel and hang out and just be around a lot of Filipinos while competing," says Niño Alcantara. JP Soriano

As for another appearance at the Asian Games, Niño remains hopeful but realistic. "For Doha, I'm not sure yet. ... We'll see how the body is and how I'm doing during those years. But yeah, it's still my goal because I wanted to play one more Asian Games. So why not?"

And with the same determination that has carried him through much of his career, he made one thing clear:

"I'm still going. I'm not stopping anytime soon."

'Go for it'

Beyond his personal ambitions, Niño also has high hopes for Philippine tennis. Having benefited from the support of tennis patrons who later helped establish the Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA), he hopes more aspiring Filipino tennis players will receive the same opportunities and encouragement that helped him pursue his dreams.

Having experienced firsthand how difficult the journey can be, Niño has an important message for aspiring tennis players and their families.

"It's not easy to be away from your family at that very young age. So I think, yeah, if people are pursuing tennis, go for it. You know, if you have the backing, even better, like you can, you know, go to different academies abroad."

But Niño is also quick to remind young athletes that financial support and access to training facilities are not guarantees of success.

"But it doesn't mean that if you have the backing, if you have the money, the budget, that you'll be good. So it always has to come from you. You have to do the hard work, you have to do everything. It's not going to be given to you. So you have to sacrifice a lot."

At the same time, Niño understands that personal sacrifice and hard work alone are not always enough. He knows how fortunate he was to have people who believed in him and helped him financially when he was just beginning his tennis journey.

And it is the same kind of support and opportunity that he hopes future generations of Filipino tennis players will also receive.

"With that, you have to start young. So, you know, I started playing and competing internationally when I was like 12."

He also spoke openly about the financial realities of pursuing tennis, particularly for families who do not have the resources to support international training and competitions. "Tennis is a very expensive sport. My family is not rich. So I came from CDO, small city, small town. So we didn't have much money."

It is a reality that makes his journey all the more meaningful.

From a young boy who had to leave home to pursue his dreams, Niño went on to become a Grand Slam junior champion, an Asian Games medalist, and a veteran of Philippine tennis. Now, as a husband and a new father, he continues to embrace the sport that has shaped much of his life.

And while he is proud of everything he has accomplished, Niño believes the next generation of Filipino tennis players can achieve even greater things.

Perhaps even greater than what he and Alex Eala have already accomplished.

His message to them is simple, but it comes from a lifetime of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.

"Just believe in yourself. Kung ano yung nakaya namin, kaya nyo rin. I hope you can even do better."

Looking back at that rainy day in Nagoya, what I remember most about Niño is not just the medals he has won or the records he has achieved.

It is the kindness and humility of a man who has spent much of his life away from home, pursuing his dreams while carrying the hopes of his family and country.

And now, after all those years of leaving home to compete, there is someone new waiting for him when he returns.

His son.

For Niño Alcantara, the love for tennis remains. The hunger to compete is still there.

But perhaps the greatest thing that has changed is that, beyond the medals and the pride of representing the Philippines, he now has an even more personal reason to keep playing, and an even more special reason to come home. — BM, GMA News