Alex Sanders seems to pop up at all the right times. Back when he was an 11-year-old he decided he was going to take tennis seriously. A year later he entered the 12/U National Hardcourts at Melbourne Park and after a week of intense competition emerged as the national champion.

 

He disappeared from the spotlight for about three years before last year entering his first event on the ITF junior circuit. Just 12 months on, and now 16, Sanders claimed his first major ITF title with a win at Gosford earlier this month.

 

While so far Sanders has carved out a career mostly away from the limelight, that’s not to say his path hasn’t been intriguing. Last year, he decided to up the ante with his tennis, and went to train at the Pat Cash Academy on the Gold Coast. He has toured with Tennis Australia squads on a couple of occasions and played at the famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.

 

He now trains with a group of some of the country’s best young stars and says tennis is his top priority. He’s now around top 20 in the world for 16-year-olds and has two quarterfinals, a semifinal and an ITF title under his belt. His says his first major win has really sparked the fire in his belly.

 

“It was great,” he says. “It was a really good experience to get my ranking up. And hopefully a short-term goal would be to get into the Optus Australian Junior Davis Cup team.

 

“It was sort of a bonus,” he says of the title win. “I just wanted to get the exposure out there and to win the title was just a bonus.”

 

And just like his first ITF title, his first national title as a 12-year-old came as a big surprise. The Gold Coaster first picked up a racquet when he was five but never played serious competition until he was 11. So to come away with a national title after little more than a year of training was an amazing feat.

 

Explaining how he managed the triumph he says: “I’ve got no idea to tell you the truth. At that age you just need a bit of talent and it can get you so far. It was definitely unexpected and a surprise to everyone.

 

“But it was recognised and I was offered a few tours with Tennis Australia and that’s when it sort of got started.”

 

Sanders, who describes himself as an aggressive all-court type player, has stepped up his commitment on the ITF circuit this year and says he feels ready to make a mark. Experiences like his three-month training stint at Bollettieri’s have him well aware of the ingredients for success.

 

“That was a good experience – seeing how their theory works. It’s a lot different from the Australian system. Just the training hours and the squads and exposure with different sorts of players.

 

“I will be looking to go back over. If I do go over within the year I will try and get into the elite squad.”

 

His first appearance at the Australian Open Junior Championships was another career-defining moment. Although he bowed out in the first round of qualifying, he says just the feeling of being on court at Melbourne Park in January made it worthwhile.

 

“The experience was great. I have only ever been there as a spectator so it was definitely different to expose myself there. It was a lot of fun.

 

“It was good to see that I could hold my own with these guys who are top 100 ITF. It is an eye-opener to see these guys who are top 10 in the world and keep your own with them.” 

 

Sanders bases himself at Pat Cash’s Academy on Hope Island when he’s home and  trains alongside other elite juniors including teenage prodigy Bernard Tomic, Jared Easton and Maverick Banes, who are also part of Tennis Australia’s programs. He says he’s in the perfect position to keep moving forward.

 

“By the end of this year I want to try and get into the main draw of the Aussie Open without a wildcard and play all of the Grand Slams for the rest of (that) year.”

 

When he gets a spare moment Sanders likes to take full advantage of living next to one of Australia’s best beaches and hits surf. And ripping out the surfboard is more than just fun for Sanders.

 

“It’s a good recovery session as well,” he says. “When the surf is up I definitely get out there a bit. Nearly every weekend. I’m still a beginner but I try.”

 

The next chapter of Sanders’ career is sure to be another intriguing one. With fellow Australian Jarrad Chaplin, he plans to head to Israel at the end of the month for some ITF events.

 

“I’m actually looking forward to it, to see the different culture. It will be a good experience.”

 

And further down the track he has bigger plans in mind.

 

“I’d like to see myself playing more of the ITF senior circuit, exposing myself there. And possibly being a contender for Davis Cup.”