Local tennis player looking to turn pro

Anton Shepp is hoping to be the one to put New Zealand tennis on the world’s centre court.

The 14-year-old Hamilton player recently returned from Australia with another win to his name, but global domination is still a few victories away.

Shepp and his doubles partner Patrick Joss competed in the Rod Laver Junior Championships, the largest junior tournament in Australia.

The pair placed first in the Under 14 Doubles.

It is one of 10 tournaments Anton has competed in since July last year.

He hopes to collect International Tennis Federation (ITF) points by playing in matches across the globe.

The Hamilton Boys’ High School student started playing tennis as a youngster, but he only competed in tournaments after moving from Australia at age six.

He said his family has always loved the sport, with his dad Ethan Shepp acting as his coach until last year.

‘‘Dad was my first trainer. He’s helped me out the whole time,’’ Anton said.

Shepp is a kickboxing coach and runs Hamilton’s House of Pain gym.

He and Anton agree that tennis and kickboxing are similar

‘‘You're on your own, you fend for yourself, but it's fun.’’

sports, both being man-vs-man forms of combat.

‘‘I like that tennis is a one-onone battle but it’s not brutal. You’re on your own, you fend for yourself, but it’s fun,’’ Anton said.

But unless you have financial backing, tennis is a difficult sport to pursue on a professional level, Shepp said.

‘‘It’s hard in New Zealand and tennis is an expensive sport. That’s not to say it’s impossible.’’

He said the standard of the sport was equal to what was being played overseas, but the exposure was next to nothing.

‘‘You get to a certain stage where you need to get international experience.

‘‘(Anton) wants to be the first one to put New Zealand on the map.

‘‘He was hitting the ball across the ground at age three, and now he could potentially make a living out of tennis.’’