A DOWNTON sporting prodigy will drop it all to move to Spain and train at the same academy that once taught Andy Murray.
Downton boy Hayden Mundy, 15, will swap Wiltshire's rainy hills for the sun-soaked shores of Catalonia to take his tennis skills to the next level.
The Trafalgar School student has been accepted into the prestigious Emilio Sanchez Academy in Barcelona, the same academy where tennis legend once Andy Murray trained.
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Asked this new opportunity, Hayden said: "I am really excited about the challenge of raising my game to the next level and massively increasing my dedicated tennis hours each week.
“Plus, I won’t have my dad moaning at me to keep my bedroom tidy!"
Hayden began his tennis journey at just five years old, when his parents enrolled him in Saturday morning tennis sessions to burn off energy.
He was ten when he discovered his affinity for tennis had turned into his passion and by 12 Hayden was intensifying his training regime.
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His dedication paid off when he started winning tournaments across the south of England.
To further hone his skills, Hayden was invited to train once a week at Bath Tennis Academy while continuing his intensive training program with Mahony Tennis, in Downton.
Within six months, his ranking soared from 800 to within the top 200 in the country. Hayden’s tournament wins include multiple County Championship titles, as well as numerous other victories.
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Hayden will be heading to Barcelona for a three-year stint, during which he will attend the American School alongside his tennis training at the Emilio Sanchez Academy.
This academy is renowned for its excellent reputation, strong track record, and links to universities in the U.S.A.
The opportunity to train on various surfaces, including clay, and the favourable weather conditions will provide Hayden with an ideal environment to elevate his game.
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