After spending their young tennis careers together, siblings Alex and Miko Eala will go their separate ways this year.

The older Eala, who graduated from the Rafael Nadal Academy, will start attending university in NCAA Division 1 school Penn State, while the country’s teen tennis sensation will continue training in the Academy. (FAST FACTS: Who is teen tennis sensation Alex Eala?)

While Alex flew back to Mallorca, Spain on Tuesday night, January 5, Miko made his way to Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

With the cancellation of the 2021 Australian Open juniors tournament, Alex targets to participate in at least two $15k Women’s Pro Tour events in the coming weeks, according to her father Mike.

The defending Australian Open juniors doubles titlist will continue to see action in a mix of Grand Slam tournaments, high-level juniors tournaments and women’s pro events.

Alex opened 2021 with a world No. 3 ranking and sits behind world No. 1 Elsa Jacquemot of France, who won the 2020 Roland Garros juniors title, and No. 2 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva.

After kicking off the 2020 season with her maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne, the 15-year-old tennis star became the country’s first junior Grand Slam semifinalist in 35 years in the Roland Garros girls singles tournament.

Alex also narrowly missed a pro quarters berth due to the tournament’s cancellation.

Miko, on the other hand, will be starting school in February, but decided to red shirt this year as the NCAA Division 1 tennis championships is scheduled to start in May.

According to Mike, Miko will start his rookie year in the 2021-2022 season.

Turning 19 this year, the older Eala has graduated from the juniors circuit and is set to participate in invitational tournaments in the US.

Before leaving the Academy, Miko got another chance to practice with world No. 2 Rafa Nadal and former world No. 1 Carlos Moya.

– Rappler.com