Todd Millington has been selected in the Tennis Australia National Academy. 80246 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By LIAM TWOMEY
WHEN Todd Millington was young he would roll in some pretty impressive circles at the Williamstown Tennis Club.
While there watching his sisters play, Australian tennis champion Mark Philippoussis was serving bombs on a nearby court.
Just a few years later Millington is turning heads on the tennis court as he heads down a similar path to the Scud.
After winning his first section one premiership at the age of 11, Millington graduated to National Points Tournaments where his ranking skyrocketed to number three in the state for his birth year.
But in a career full of outstanding results, it is the 12 year-old’s latest achievement that could have him on his way to the pro tour.
Earlier this year he was selected in a Tennis Australia National Academy, designed to train up Australia’s next generation of tennis superstars.
Millington’s dad Peter, said Todd was loving the opportunity he had been given.
“We were just overwhelmed when Tennis Australia offered it to us. He can see a coach twice a day five times a week,” he said.
“One day he gets to work just on his fitness with a former Essendon Football Club fitness trainer and they quite often have Lleyton Hewitt’s physio there looking after them. It is everything. He is getting the whole package.”
Having only been a part of the academy for a few months Peter is already seeing the improvements in Todd’s game as his Tennis Australia coaches make some small changes that could have a big impact.
“They are trying to change his game a little bit from being very defensive to being what is called an all-courter. He is a really good runner and they think that he has the stamina and the speed to be an all court player.”
With his local coaches Mark Peel and Denis Weily also in his corner Todd has all the pieces of his jigsaw coming together. However, it’s not just with a racquet in his hand that the young gun excels. He has also been a state swimmer and is a talented runner.
Peter said no matter what sport his son plays, enjoyment was always the main priority.
“He is on a long road and at the moment he is doing everything right. He’s got a really good attitude and is very modest.”
