Not far from where Marcos Baghdatis was running the world's best players all over Melbourne Park last week, Austen Childs was making a smaller statement of his own.
Just turned 16, Childs came through his biggest test with a healthy pass mark - a quarter-final appearance at his first Grand
Slam.
Not world-beating stuff yet, but enough to boost his junior world ranking to 41 with two years left in the under-18 ranks, and confirm trips to the junior French Open, Wimbledon and US Open later in the year.
No one needs reminding of the slim pickings for New Zealand male tennis players since Brett Steven reached a world ranking of 32 in 1996 - and the danger of getting carried away by a promising teen.
But talk to those in the know and there is a hint of excitement when Childs' name is mentioned.
"He's shown that he's got ability and he has a mindset which is very much like an overseas player," said former Davis Cup and world top-125 player David Mustard.
"He's probably one of the better ones we've had for a few years."
Mustard should know, having played doubles with Childs in Auckland interclub tennis this season and keeping a close eye on his progress.
He said TNZ had already earmarked Childs as "a major force" for the future.
A relaxed, unflustered character, powerful groundstrokes on the forehand and backhand, the ability to patiently work a point and a rare - for a New Zealander - liking for clay courts are all big pluses.
Childs' watershed result came last week in the Melbourne heat when he dispatched world junior No 5 and tournament third seed Sanam Singh of India, 6-3 in the third set to make the quarter-finals.
But after back-to-back three-set victories, he bowed out to Australian Nick Lindahl in straight sets after losing a first set tiebreak.
It's a result that has his coach, former Dutch ATP professional Marcel Vos, excited about the rest of the year.
Childs first came to Vos as a 9-year-old after he rarely got a bat or bowl in his local cricket team.
Vos says Childs hasn't stopped surprising him after dipping his toe in the water with an eight-week stint in Europe last June/July, when he gained his maiden ITF junior tournament victory in Portugal.
"Every time we've put a goal in front of him he's surpassed it," Vos said.
"He deserves all the credit he gets. He's not waiting for a lot of attention but I think he turned quite a few heads from around the world at the Australian Open."
In February and March, Childs will debut in senior futures tournaments in Blenheim and Hamilton alongside New Zealand's top players Mark Nielsen and Dan King-Turner.
Then it's off to Paris, London and New York for the junior Grand Slams to prove his Melbourne effort wasn't a one-off.
"When Austen goes away overseas he seems to be able to switch into another gear," Vos said. "On clay where your game will be exposed, he's been able to excel where other kids find it hard to compete at that level."
Another priority is arranging a chat with world No 1 Roger Federer, Childs' idol on whom his powerful baseline game is largely modelled.
But, as with all up-and-coming New Zealand players, money will play a big part.
A group of Bay of Plenty businesspeople have funded Childs up until now but more is needed as Vos looks to set up a base alongside other top juniors in the Netherlands or Germany and try to earn ATP ranking points.
Vos hopes Tennis New Zealand will help.
"There's obviously not a lot of funding - Tennis New Zealand contributed very little, next to nothing, in 2005.
"Hopefully they will support a bit more this year.
"The only way to produce top tennis players in New Zealand is by sheer luck, or the way we've done it to find people who believe in us and are able to help financially to put Austen in the right environment."
Mustard says there are no obvious weaknesses in Childs' game but sees upper body strength, volley and serve as areas for improvement.
Vos already has Childs in the gym trying to bulk up his 1.83m, 68kg frame so he can slug from the baseline against his older, stronger opponents.
"Yes, he's got potential, and if he can work on his game and get his intensity up, he's got as good a shot as anyone," Mustard said.
"I've seen quite a few with his ability, but he's shown he can transfer that to results."
Austen Childs' junior world ranking climbed to 41 after his quarter-final appearance in the Australian Open. Picture / Bay of Plenty Times
Not far from where Marcos Baghdatis was running the world's best players all over Melbourne Park last week, Austen Childs was making a smaller statement of his own.
Just turned 16, Childs came through his biggest test with a healthy pass mark - a quarter-final appearance at his first Grand
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