Home schooling and travel: Life as a 10-year-old tennis star

Hunter Henderson is the son of a professional footballer - but chose a tennis pathway

Wimbledon is in full swing and all eyes are on the British players - but what does it take to reach the top of the sport?

Hunter Henderson is one of those who hopes to make a career in tennis - and the 10-year-old is already making sacrifices to get there.

Hunter, whose father is the former Sheffield United striker Darius Henderson, has played tennis since the age of three and is based at Doncaster Lawn Tennis Club.

He and his younger sister Halo, who is also a talented player, are home-schooled to fit around their training schedule and have to travel to Leeds and Sheffield for advanced coaching sessions on indoor courts.

Hunter's hard work is paying off, as he has just won the Smrikva Bowl, a junior tournament in Croatia which counts Carlos Alcaraz as a past finalist.

The youngster described himself as "feeling like part of British tennis history" after claiming the title.

Darius, who was a youth trainee at hometown club Doncaster Rovers and later made 72 appearances for the Blades, said his son was fully committed to training five days a week.

"At the beginning it was take him down to the local tennis club, see how he gets on, and he really did love it and he kind of drives it himself now.

"Hunter and Halo have something in common and it becomes quite competitive in the house at times."

Doncaster does not have indoor courts, meaning the family make regular trips to tennis centres elsewhere in Yorkshire.

"You only get seven days in a week and you have to choose and it was his decision.

"He understood very early on that if he wants to win more games of tennis, he is going to have to do more tennis."

Hunter Henderson beat under-10s players from all over the world

Hunter's mother Laura said her son's photo would now hang on the wall of the Smrikva Bowl venue below that of Alcaraz, who was runner-up in 2013.

"It's nice that he got the recognition and managed to get the win from the tournament," she said.

Future US Open champion Dominic Thiem also won the event in 2003.

Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz competed in the same tournament Hunter won

Hunter also idolises ex-British number one Jack Draper, who he met when visiting the National Tennis Centre in London.

"He gave me his signed hat and some sweatbands," Hunter said.

The 10-year-old from Bawtry has been to watch his tennis heroes at three of the four Grand Slam events - Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open - as well as the Olympic Games.

"We're all really proud of him and he works exceptionally hard," Laura added.

Darius, who is now a football agent, said the youngest of his four sons knows he has to commit to the sport if he wants to compete at the highest level.

"We're all aware of the journey ahead and if Hunter turns round in his teens and says he doesn't want to do tennis any more, then as a family we'll encourage him with all that he needs and support him.

"It is a very competitive sport and industry to break through but at the moment he's on the right track."

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