Huge sacrifices are paying off for Hawke's Bay tennis player Finn Reynolds ... big time.
The Hawke's Bay Lawn club player and national under-14 singles and doubles champion, who moved to Auckland back in February to "take the next step", this week, beat the United States No1 at the world under-14 championship in the Czech Republic. Reynolds beat Steven Sun 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 to register the New Zealand team's only win in a 2-1 loss to the United States.
In their next outing the Kiwis beat Spain 2-1. Reynolds had one match point against the Spanish No1 before losing the third-set tie breaker 7-5 in a clash which lasted two hours and 30 minutes.
His teammate Macsen Sisam of Northland won in three sets to square the tie before the Kiwis combined to win a thrilling two-hour three-set doubles match to clinch the tie. New Zealand lost 3-0 to Brazil in their final pool tie.
Reynolds' father Andy, who quit his job in Napier to support his son in the big smoke, has been watching the Kiwis' progress via live-streaming.