Patrick Brady: Six-Year-Old Star Could Be The Future Of British Tennis (Video)

Six-Year-Old From Dartford Could Be Future Of British Tennis

Meet Patrick Brady, the future of British tennis.

Despite its long association with the game, the UK isn't known for producing champions with the racquet.

The country's fortunes, however, may be changing. Andy Murray has established himself as part of an elite quartet, while 17-year-old Londoner Oliver Golding recently won the US Open Boys' title in New York.

And then there's Patrick Brady, the six-year-old tennis wunderkind from Dartford, who is being guided to the top by his tennis coach father, John.

"Because I'm a coach he's been around tennis from a very young age," said John, stood court side at The Warren Clay Court Club in Wanstead where Patrick trains.

Patrick first picked up a racquet when he was three-years-old and has been playing almost daily ever since.

John insists there wasn't a plan to turn his son into a potential future champion, but whatever he's doing, it's certainly working, with the youthful three-footer regularly taking on a beating adult opponents.

When Patrick was four, his family took him to Argentina, where he attended a tennis school run by professional Leo Mayer. "That definitely had an impact on him," says John, "as well as a lot of hard work, some natural talent... and technique."

"Hours and hours of practice and corrections, going over the technique and making sure his footwork is correct."

Patrick also benefits from a day-to-day involvement with the sport via his father, including trips to grand slam tournaments.

He counts Judy Murray [Andy's mother] among his "friends", while earlier this year Patrick could be found on the practice courts of Wimbledon and Roland Garros.

So how far can Patrick go?

"That depends," says John. "He needs to be in an environment soon where he's going to have the best players around him because that fundamentally why places like the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy produces such good players."

Does that mean Patrick might have to leave Britain to progress in the sport?

"Maybe," says John, before turning to Patrick to quietly remind him to bend his knee on the backhand.

The young man obliges, dispatching a shot with heavy top down the line.

"...but at the moment we're doing OK where we are," he says through a smile.

Do you know a future star of the game? If so, let's us know...

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