The moment felt like deja vu. Longtime junior tennis coach Karl Santamaria found himself sharing the court once again with Alex Eala – the same spirited young girl he once guided through drills and footwork on quiet courts. Only now, she isn’t just a promising junior, but a 20-year-old rising star, a prominent figure shaping the future of Philippine tennis.

As luck would have it, both happened to be in the country at the same time last month for a much-needed break — Alex, after grueling clay and grass court seasons, and Karl, on a family vacation from Melbourne, Australia, where he’s now based.

And what better place for a reunion than the tennis court where it all began?

“Reunited with the champ Alex Eala in Manila!” Karl posted on his social media. “Schedules somehow aligned, and was able to join her and coach @jovenronard for a light workout as she gets ready for the hardcourt/North American swing.”

“Lots of laughs reminiscing about training days during their younger years (with Miko). Great to see you and join your workout even just for a day. Best of luck for the rest of the season!” he added.

It didn’t surprise Karl by how much Alex had accomplished so early in her career. Having trained her at the age of six along with brother Miko, who was two years older, he had already seen the qualities that would one day set them apart as exceptional tennis players.

“If there’s one thing to really pinpoint with Alex and Miko, it’s when they train, it was all business – even at a young age,” said Karl.

“From the way they did things and conducted themselves… you can see how disciplined they are. And sometimes, coaches overlook these understated aspects of the kids’ development: that before you actually make them good tennis players, you have to train them to be disciplined athletes,” he added.

Karl’s insights come from decades of experience of coaching and training various tennis athletes – from junior and collegiate players to senior competitors and national team members. His perspective has also been shaped by a family deeply rooted in sports.

His father, August Santamaria, is a former collegiate and national volleyball team coach. His uncle, Tomas Santamaria, is also a respected volleyball mentor both in the Philippines and Australia and a former chairman of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Coaches Committee, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his years of service to the sport.

Karl’s journey with the Eala siblings began in 2012, when their late grandfather, Bob Maniego, invited him to train his young grandchildren at their country club. At first, Karl trained only Miko, while Alex watched from the sidelines. But over time, Alex gradually joined the sessions, eager to learn and improve alongside her brother.

The setup only lasted two years, as Karl was soon offered a position with the Philippine Tennis Association to coach the national team. Still, he stayed in touch with Lolo Bob, regularly sending pointers and training tips for the two kids. It wasn’t unfamiliar territory for Lolo Bob, anyway — he had once raised an athlete himself. His daughter Rizza, Alex and Miko’s mother, was a former national swimmer who brought home a bronze medal from the Southeast Asian Games.

Alex began to quietly conquer one tournament after another, building momentum with each win. Then, in 2018, she was given the opportunity to compete in Les Petits As – a prestigious 14-and-under tournament held in Tarbes, France. At just 12 years old, she defied the odds by winning the title, a breakthrough performance that caught the attention of the Rafa Nadal Academy. Impressed by her talent and potential, the academy offered her a scholarship soon after.

Alongside her brother Miko —who also received a scholarship — Alex spent six formative years training and studying at the prestigious academy in Mallorca, Spain, before graduating in 2023. Miko, who graduated a few years prior, eventually found his path in the US NCAA Division I, playing for Penn State University. Alex, on the other hand, took a different route — competing on the junior circuit, where she captured two Grand Slam girls doubles titles (the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open) and a girls singles title at the 2022 US Open.

Alex steadily built her professional career, winning five singles and three doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. But it was at this year’s Miami Open last March that everything changed for the young Filipin0 trailblazer. Entering the tournament as a wildcard, Alex stunned the tennis world by blazing through to the semifinals, defeating three Grand Slam champions along the way — 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, and five-time Grand Slam titlist Iga Swiatek.

Proving she belongs among the sport’s elite, Alex reached her first WTA final at the Eastbourne Open last June, finishing as runner-up and climbing to a career-high singles ranking of No. 56 in the WTA.

For Karl, watching that once wide-eyed young girl grow up and achieve one dream after another feels like a dream come true — not just for her, but for him as well.

“You don’t have to follow the exact same path as Alex. Your journey might lead you to a pro career, to college — whether abroad or locally — or even just a successful run in the juniors. But no matter where it takes you, the lessons you learn from tennis will be valuable in whatever you choose to pursue in life,” he said.