BORN WITH AN ACE UP HIS SLEEVE

ONE of Australia’s cutest young tennis talents is also definitely one to watch.

At just three years of age, Huxley Case-Boag is a tennis fanatic, with dad Zan Boag saying he was basically born with a racquet in his hand.

Mr Boag grew up playing tennis before losing touch with it, but after moving to Hobart about five years ago he fell back in love with the game — a passion that has been passed to his four children.

“It’s something that’s become allconsuming for me, we have a tennis

court at home so the kids have regular lessons, as I do,” he said. “The thing I find interesting about tennis and why I’ve come back to it with such a passion is because it’s kind of like physical chess.

“It’s not just a physical encounter, it’s also quite intellectual and psychological.

“I see it as a wonderful opportunity for the kids to learn these really important life skills. Some of it is how to lose well — life isn’t about winning, and tennis certainly isn’t either. They need to learn how to lose with grace.”

Eldest daughter Zola, 12, has just begun competing with adults and was even her dad’s doubles partner for the

Cygnet Open. Escher, 10, and Wolfe, 8, also love the sport.

And as the youngest, Huxley works hard to keep up with his siblings.

Mr Boag said he basically picked a racquet up as soon as he could walk.

“He’s very cute out there with his racket and he takes it very seriously. Whenever there’s a tennis ball he’ll pick it up and hit it. He hits it quite nicely over a full-sized net. Or he’ll be over by a wall and just hitting a ball against it non-stop for hours — or demanding someone come outside and hit it with him. But with all the children around there’s always an opportunity to have a hit.”