Boy, 11, is on monitor to be Australian Open’s first wheelchair ballkid

Junior wheelchair tennis champion Sonny Rennison is aiming to turn out to be Australia’s first wheelchair ballkid on the Australian Open.

The tennis-mad 11-year-old, who’s ranked 21 on this planet for junior wheelchair tennis singles, will seem on the Australian Open All Abilities Day, and is hoping to be chosen as a ballkid for a Grand Slam match in future, too.

Sonny has been coaching for the position utilizing a custom-designed ball-collection gadget and is alleged to be each bit as quick as the opposite ballkids on court docket.

‘I’ve at all times seen ballkids at tennis tournaments and at all times seen it as one thing that appeared enjoyable, and one thing I’d need to do, however by no means seen it as one thing I might do,’ Sonny informed the Brisbane Times.

‘Obviously, it includes working round, and all the youngsters on the tournaments are standing up, and I’ve by no means seen one in a wheelchair, [but] my fundamental focus for eager to be a ballkid is to encourage different children who is perhaps within the wheelchair and may really feel the identical means as me.’

Sonny Rennison is on monitor to be the primary wheelchair ballkid at a future Australian Open

The 11-year-old is a junior wheelchair tennis champion who’s ranked 21 on this planet

Sonny was recognized with a uncommon genetic situation at age 4 which stops the heads of his thighbones rising correctly.

Aussie tennis nice Alicia Molik has been impressed by the teen throughout a match simulation she carried out with him, and is backing him to seem on the Grand Slam. 

‘Sonny radiates vitality. He’s a part of the National High Performance at Tennis Australia in Melbourne, so he has large ambitions like each different child within the high-performance group, and plenty of children around the globe,’ stated Molik.

‘He needs to be a ballkid as a lot as each single different one. In truth, his ardour may even exceed these.’

Aussie wheelchair doubles champion Heath Davidson is one other who needs to see Sonny, and different wheelchair ballkids, on the Australian Open.

‘I’m pushing extraordinarily exhausting to get Sonny on court docket throughout the [2024] Australian Open,’ he stated. 

‘Yes, it is a pilot program in its early levels, however in future this [wheelchair ballkids] is one thing that may turn out to be simply regular.

‘I’ve at all times questioned whey we could not have ballkids in wheelchairs, or anyone with a incapacity. It is one thing that should occur.’

Sonny was recognized with a genetic situation on the age of 4 that stops the heads of his thighbones rising correctly

The teen (pictured centre with seven-time Australian Open champion Dylan Alcott, proper) is tennis-mad and eager to encourage different children in wheelchairs

Sonny’s first check can be at an exhibition match throughout the All Abilities Day on the main

Sonny was profiled on 7NEWS and spoke concerning the significance of illustration. 

‘I had by no means seen a wheelchair ballkid earlier than, so I assumed it might not occur,’ hesaid.

‘It made me a bit unhappy after I was youthful, as a result of I knew I might do it.

‘I’m so grateful and grateful that I managed to have this chance, and hopefully [it will] encourage different children in wheelchairs,’ he added.