MANILA, Philippines?While everybody slows down during the holidays, Francis Casey ?Niño? Alcantara is going full throttle for the biggest challenge of his young tennis career?the Australian Open juniors.

The 16-year-old Alcantara, ranked 39th in the world juniors, hopes to become the first Filipino to perform well in the main draw in Melbourne.

Alcantara has come a long way from being an age group champion in Cagayan de Oro.

?We took notice of his talents, but back then he was playing on and off,? said his coach, two-time RP Davis Cupper Junjun Toledo.

He lost his father at the age of 10 but that didn?t stop him from finding his place in the local tennis circuits. After several ITF circuit titles last year, he won the Phinma tournament early this month, and was a semifinalist in the PCA Open.

?I haven?t heard of a Filipino who made it far in the Australian Open juniors before,? said Toledo. ?Hopefully he will blaze the trail.?

Already, Alcantara is being compared with local tennis greats Felix Barrientos and Manny Tolentino. Barrientos reached No. 1 in world juniors ranking and held the distinction of making the semifinals of the Wimbledon juniors.

But right now, Toledo said their main concern is to ?bulk him up,? making him log extended hours in the gym in his hometown in Cagayan de Oro.

?The guys he will face there are big, he has to get muscle mass because that will spell the difference,? Toledo told the Inquirer. ?He may have the skills but he has to be physiologically up to it.?

Before Melbourne, Alcantara will compete in the Nottinghill tournament, a Grade 1 event which is a tune-up for the Aussie juniors.

Toledo and Alcantara will fly to Melbourne Jan. 13 to get the hang of the conditions Down Under. The Australian Open juniors is slated Jan. 23-Feb. 1.

?We see a lot of promise from him and the fact that he?s homegrown makes it more special,? said Toledo.