Big month for budding junior tennis star

IT'S BEEN a big month for tennis prodigy Mackenzie Edwards.

Mackenzie, known as "?Mac' to his friends and family, has been carving out a reputation for himself as one of the region's most gifted young players.

Mac plays in the Davis Cup B Division of the Wollongong junior morning competition with his brother, 14-year-old Keaton Edwards.

Despite Mac being the youngest player in the competition, the duo has won their way through to this weekend's grand final.

Mac has also been playing in the Junior Development Series (JDS). He opened his campaign in the under 12s but after winning two of his first three tournaments, moved up to the under 14s.

Last Sunday, at his first under 14s event, in Wollongong, Mac went through undefeated and won the event. On the weekend he again played in the under 14s and finished as runner-up.

Earlier this month he attended trials played at Pymble Ladies College to playoff for the NSW Combined Independent Schools team.

Mackenzie went through the day undefeated, which has earned him number one position in the team for the national championships in May.

The 11-year-old is not intimidated by playing against older or more experienced competitors.

"The pressure is more on them than it is on me," he said.

Although Mackenzie aspires to make a living on the ATP Tour, he realises that is a long way off.

"I'd like to play in a Grand Slam event or for Australia in the Davis Cup one day," he said.

Mackenzie has a fine pedigree, as his parents, mother Michelle Edwards was ranked in the WTA top 100 in singles and doubles, while his father Brett Edwards was a fringe top-100 ATP player. Both are now successful tennis coaches in Shellharbour.

Michelle said she wanted her talented son to take things one step at a time.

"Mackenzie is doing really well but we know how hard it is to make it to the elite level in tennis," she said.

"We don't want to push anything on the kids, we don't want to get carried away.

"While they're enjoying tennis we will be behind them 100 per cent."

Michelle has cast a keen eye over her son's on-court talents.

"He's a good mover on the court, that is probably the main thing he does really well," she said.

"Mackenzie plays with passion, that's a fabulous asset to have.

"When he does lose he bounces back well " he loves the challenge and the competition."