FLYNN Pociask showed maturity beyond his years to win the under-8 boys 2019 NSW Country Tennis Championship title at Forster last week.
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Twelve months ago it was older brother Noah who held the trophy aloft and Flynn's first non-Junior Development Series success kept the trophy in the household for another year.
He didn't have it all his own way, having to fight a mental battle after a 3-0 advantage almost totally disappeared before his very eyes.
But he kept cool when serving for the match to get the job done.
"I was up 3-0, but then he got to 3-2 and if I got to 3-all it would have been a tiebreak," he said.
"I had to win the shot when I was serving and it was 40-30 and then I won that shot and won."
All matches were the first to four and the talented youngster went through the tournament undefeated on an unfamiliar clay surface.
But he enjoyed playing on something other than a grass court.
"You slide more, but that's good for me because I like sliding and it makes it fun," he said.
Coach Mark Rawlingson said he could see similar attributes in Flynn's game that he also saw in older brother Noah's.
"They're very similar, but maybe Flynn has watched older brother at tournaments and learned a bit," he said.
The ability to keep calm under pressure was the key to his success.
"One of the things Flynn does very well is when it's a close match he really keeps cool under pressure and keeps playing his game," he said.
"It's one of those things that is an innate quality.
"You can teach it in theory, but to do it in practice - with the person in any situation - you've got to have that internal regulation.
"He regulates his emotions very well because some kids get really tight instead of keeping loose."
Rawlingson said the success story was great for both Port Macquarie and the Westport Tennis Club.
"It further inspires lots of little kids because they see things like this and then see it's someone from the club they play at," he said.
"It continues his great form and gives him another impressive title."
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