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Smashing debut for young tennis star

From Nintendo Wii to tournament champion, Chilliwack's Mitchell Middlemiss continues his meteoric tennis rise.

Eight-year-old Chilliwack native Mitchell Middlemiss is off to a stellar start in his tennis career.

The local lad, who got his start wearing out the Middlemiss family Nintendo Wii, took to a real court for his first competitive tournament Oct. 21.

He took out a Tennis BC membership and entered the U-9 division at a tournament in North Vancouver (Hollyburn), where he made it all the way to the finals.

He lost the last match against the top-ranked player in the province, but it was an epic battle.

One particular rally was almost 50 shots long.

A coach who witnessed the match dubbed gave Middlemiss a new nickname, the Wall.

The youngster entered the People’s Court tournament in Coquitlam the following weekend and blew away the competition. Middlemiss faced the No. 3 ranked U-9 player in the final and took the championship.

Middlemiss will be back in action Nov. 18, again in Coquitlam. On Nov. 24 he’ll enter a tournament at the Vancouver Lawn and Tennis Club.

Middlemiss is coached by Tess McFayden at First Step Tennis Chilliwack and has also benefited from baseball training provided by University of British Columbia pitching coach Shawn Corness.