RORY Parnell is one right out of the box — setting new standards on a state championship production line that has included the likes of Todd Woodbridge and more recently world top 100 player James Duckworth.
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At just nine years of age, in grade 4 at St Patrick’s, he will now represent NSW at the national primary school tennis titles — likely to play at no. 2.
At the recent state titles Parnell, playing as a No. 1 for the Catholic education system, won all but one of his seven matches — beating kids three years older than him and only losing in the final in a tie-breaker 7-5.
Coach Mark Shanahan said it was unchartered waters.
“As far as we know there has been no other nine-year-old go to the primary school nationals let alone be likely to play as the No. 2 in the side,” he said.
“This is a system that continues to turn out the very best in Australian tennis and yet no one can recall someone so young being a part of that.
“Traditionally it is the grade 6 kids, the 12-year-olds, but I don’t think anyone has ever seen a player like Rory — he is certainly the best talent we have seen at the Tennis Academy.”
Shanahan said it was a combination of talent, hard work and tenacity.
“It’s not a chore for him to be at the courts straight after school, use the wall for an hour, have a lesson for an hour and then going looking for someone to play until it’s dark,” he said.
“I’d liken him to the Spanish player David Ferrer, he tracks everything down and then has the firepower to hit the winners at will.”
