Tom Colls, a member of the Nathan Edwards Tennis Academy in Burnham, reached the semi-finals of the U10s event in a county level tournament at the David Lloyd Tennis Centre in Bristol last week.

The under-10 players were split into three groups, with Colls progressing to the semi-finals, but only after a play-off against the winners of the other groups as all three had won two of their three matches.

In the semi-final, Colls faced number one seed Louis Shaw, from Bristol. Colls eventually lost to Shaw after a hard battle but can be proud of his performance, playing seven short-set matches in one day and dealing with what can be an overwhelming experience.

Colls only turned nine in December, which makes him one of the youngest in his age group. He was offered a place in the Nathan Edwards Tennis Academy last March following the selection process and is one of the strongest players at present.

The young star was already a member of Avenue Tennis Club and had been playing tennis since he was five years old. The commitment of his mum Nikki and dad Dave has also been essential in his development, and they have expressed their appreciation and support of the academy.The event was part of a new grade three tournament at David Lloyd which attracted an entry of 250 players in all age groups, including an open event for over-18s which was won by Dan Sidaway, from Cardiff.

There are a few places available in the academy for under-10s. It requires athleticism, great footwork, excellent hand eye co-ordination, a competitive spirit and strong mental attitude. If that might be you, contact Sally on 01278 784080.

The academy continues to search for financial support and would welcome donations or sponsorship to enable it to support the development of future tennis talent.