Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Young tennis star one to watch (+video)

Rotorua Daily Post
11 Oct, 2016 01:12 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Interview with tennis rising star Logan Nathan.

Rising Rotorua tennis star Logan Nathan is one to watch for the future after winning recent Auckland Junior Championships titles.

Nathan smashed his way to success in the 2016 under-14 division in both the singles and doubles competitions last week - the results moving him into New Zealand's top ranked 25 for his age group.

The talented 14-year-old, seeded eight in the singles, beat top seed Aulky Wang, from Auckland, in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

He clinched his second title with doubles partner Leon Wilkinson, 6-1, 6-2, against Auckland duo Tom Downs and Daniel Perrson.

"I'm delighted especially with the singles win because I was certainly viewed as the underdog going in," he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"On the day my speed and movement was the difference and I was able to get on top and stay there."

TALENTED YOUNGSTER: Tennis player Logan Nathan is a member of both Rotorua and Lynmore Tennis Club's. PHOTO/ STEPHEN PARKER.
TALENTED YOUNGSTER: Tennis player Logan Nathan is a member of both Rotorua and Lynmore Tennis Club's. PHOTO/ STEPHEN PARKER.

Nathan, a Year 9 student at John Paul College, first picked up a racket four years ago after being inspired when watching live world class tennis played by the likes of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Duty Free Championships.

Shortly after he joined both Lynmore and Rotorua tennis clubs and was first coached by Rotorua's Henry Gers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But for the past six months Nathan has been training with the new coach at Rotorua Tennis Club Marvin Barker - which the youngster said had greatly developed his game.

"Marvin has really made me take a more professional approach to playing," Nathan said.

"Especially with the mental side of the game. I am containing my emotion better on court."

"My strokes have really come on as well especially my backhand and serve."

Barker, 25, originally from Melbourne, said Nathan had great potential.

"He is so young but already shows excellent movement around the court.

"I've been looking closely at having the right attitude and how to structure points. In tough situations it's about knowing what are the right shots to pull out and handling the rallies."

Marvin Barker is the new coach at Rotorua tennis club. PHOTO/ STEPHEN PARKER.
Marvin Barker is the new coach at Rotorua tennis club. PHOTO/ STEPHEN PARKER.

Nathan currently trains four times a week whilst also playing games on the weekend and has the full backing from parents Oscar and Renee.

"Logan is prepared to put in the hard work and we will do all we can to support him and his dream," said his father.

"For his age he has a very good mind and is very mature.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"The main thing going forward is just composure - trusting his shot and going for it."

Nathan is developing his play by competing against much older players in the Waikato Baywide Premier interclub men's competition - with Lynmore and Rotorua combining sides.

"It's the best way for me to practise. I want to keep continuing to improve and coming up against stronger older players will do this," he said.

Nathan has aspirations of one day playing professionally with an ultimate aim of competing at Wimbledon and other grand slam tournaments.

"New Zealand are doing well considering the size and population of our country but the interest isn't that big," he said.

"I am focused on improving as much as I can here and then hopefully moving abroad to train, possibly in America and become a professional.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I definitely want to play in the ASB Classic [New Zealand] in the future, that would be a great achievement.

"And to make it to any of the grand slams would be great, especially Wimbledon."

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Rotorua Daily Post

'Have you got the right person?': League stalwart stunned by top honour

30 Dec 04:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'I'm just stoked': Rotorua cyclist sets record time on non-stop Auckland-Wellington ride

16 Dec 08:01 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

From farm lanes to fast lanes: Rotorua bowlers ready to shine in Christchurch

05 Dec 04:00 AM

Sponsored

The Bay’s secret advantage

07 Dec 09:54 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

'Have you got the right person?': League stalwart stunned by top honour
Rotorua Daily Post

'Have you got the right person?': League stalwart stunned by top honour

Jenny Nahu has spent 50 years driving rugby league in Rotorua.

30 Dec 04:00 PM
'I'm just stoked': Rotorua cyclist sets record time on non-stop Auckland-Wellington ride
Rotorua Daily Post

'I'm just stoked': Rotorua cyclist sets record time on non-stop Auckland-Wellington ride

16 Dec 08:01 PM
From farm lanes to fast lanes: Rotorua bowlers ready to shine in Christchurch
Rotorua Daily Post

From farm lanes to fast lanes: Rotorua bowlers ready to shine in Christchurch

05 Dec 04:00 AM


The Bay’s secret advantage
Sponsored

The Bay’s secret advantage

07 Dec 09:54 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2026 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP