FINLAY Clarke is a young tennis player in a hurry, going from one smash-hit success to another.

After securing the nine and under title in the LTA’s Winter County Tour Leaderboard for Lancashire he is now leading the equivalent summer competition.

His latest achievements continue an impressive trend for the Bradley Fold nine-year-old, who recently won a competition in Sheffield and claimed a title at the Holcombe Brook Easter Open.

It is perhaps apt that, after meeting Greg Rusedski during a coaching tour of Manchester, young Finlay’s serve is his biggest weapon.

“His serves are awesome, he can ace me, and we receive positive comments on the speed from every competition we go too,” said mum Abi, who introduced her son to tennis four years ago after the family joined the David Lloyd gym in Bolton.

Finlay’s love of tennis was reinforced when he got the chance to watch his hero, Roger Federer, in action during a visit to Wimbledon.

And Abi says his meeting with Rusedski has also helped his development.

“He partnered him in doubles, played singles against him and had his serves coached. It was a great experience for him,” she added.

As well as success on the LTA junior tour and in local competitions, the primary school pupil at Christ Church in Ainsworth has beaten all-comers at his David Lloyd gym.

Finlay, who also trains at Manchester Tennis Centre twice a week, recently became his club’s orange champion for the second successive year and finished third at the regional finals.

He has since joined Holcombe Brook tennis club and showed his all-round sporting ability by last week winning the javelin competition for his age group at the Bury Schools Athletics Championships.