Player in music circles, too

Tennis

Ace Masterton tennis player Marcus Daniell is also making a name for himself in an entirely different field.

After years spent writing lyrics and music - some of them detailing his personal struggles on the professional tennis circuit - Daniell has released his debut single, Tonight, which can be heard by Googling "Marquis and the Vanguard".

And his debut album is due to be released next month.

Titled My Skinny Bones, it was recorded in a Wellington studio while he had short break at home during Christmas last year.

A member of the New Zealand Davis Cup squad, Daniell has been making a big name for himself on the ITF Futures circuit during the past 12 months.

His good form continued in Marathon, Greece, last week, where he partnered Richard Gabb from Britain to win the doubles title, beating the second seeds in three sets in the semis and then demolishing their South African opponents 6-1, 6-1 in the final.

Daniell also reached the quarter-finals of the singles.