IF Patrick Parker’s ambitions of becoming a professional tennis player are fulfilled – and don’t bet against it – his aspirations won’t be stopping there.
Such a move up the ranks won’t be enough for the Drumhalla based teenager. As far, in fact, from enough as it is possible to be.
“I want to win the Grand Slam of tennis,” he declares, an achievement that involves winning all four Major tournaments including Wimbledon, the French Open, Australian Open, and the U.S. equivalent.
Not content there, he’s also aiming to complete the Triple Crown of the sport – victory in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles in the one tournament.
“I’d like there to be the Parker Slam, just like the Tiger Slam in golf. I want to be pretty much the greatest tennis player of all time.”
It’s not an insane sense of over confidence that’s driving him – and sees him travelling daily from Rathmullan by bus to lay his ground strokes at Letterkenny Tennis Club – but a strong belief that he can pass through those ranks to the very top. It’s likely that Tiger Woods had those dreams when he chased his golfing aspirations at the same age as the tussle haired teenager so why not, he is adamant. His passion for tennis is evident when your hear him talking the talk.
“I really like the individualism of the sport. It’s just you, your mindset, and your beliefs out there on the court.
“I don’t really like team sports especially football,” he points out.
He believes that tennis is both “underrepresented and misunderstood” pointing to a number of his school mates who consider it a “soft” sport compared to Gaelic football and rugby. “But it’s a physically and mentally demanding sport,” Patrick dismisses that comparison as he prepares to go on court in the impressing surroundings of Letterkenny Tennis Club.
He started playing the game at the age or four or five and while there was a break in intervening years, he returned to it with even greater enthusiasm.
To say that the 15 year old is passionate about tennis is an understatement. His favourite player is the Serbian legend, Novak Djokovic, who he lauds for his dedication and commitment to his sport. “He looked at his nutrition and diet and as a result became a vegan and gluten free. That shows real determination.”
Patrick points to Djokovic’s records of twenty-four Grand Slams and was hoping that the Serb would add to his tally at this year Wimbledon. Not to be but there’s still time for one of the greatest players ever to deliver in this respect.
Meanwhile, Patrick Jack Parker will be turning sixteen on August 11. What’s down the line, apart from one of his forehand drives, is he hopes the Irish Junior pathway into scholarship territory in the U.S.
And who knows what after that…..?
Though this lively and good humoured young tennis player does seem to know.