Hayden forges his own sporting path

terry.wilson@news.com.au Australian Open last year. This record explains why Hayden has been invited to play the national under-12 grasscourt championship in Adelaide.

Only the top 32 boys aged 12 and under in national rankings are invited to this prestige event.

That Hayden has plenty of sporting ability is understandable given that mum, Loretta Harrop, was a former world-class triathlete and dad Brad Jones was a gun Australian rules footballer for Mt Gravatt in his days in the QAFL.

Among her outstanding achievements, Loretta won a world triathlon title and was also a runner-up and she won a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. It was in 1999 that Loretta won her world triathlon championship, the same year that hubby Brad won the QAFL Grogan Medal.

Brad was also four times runner-up in the best and fairest award.

“We won our 1999 titles two months apart – but we’ve had our day and this is about Hayden,” Loretta said of her son.

“He does karate and swims as well but tennis is his main sport.

“He absolutely loves it.”

Young tennis ace Hayden Jones, 10, is dominating tournaments playing above his age division.

Loretta Harrop with her silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and Brad Jones with his Grogan Medal in 1999.