Nine-year-old tennis player Charlie Camus is well on his way to realising his dream of becoming the best in the world.
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Three-and-a-half years ago Camus went to the Australian Open and came home to his dad Olivier with a clear goal.
"That's what I want to be. I want to be a professional tennis player," he said.
He's had a racquet in his hand since the age of three and is now ranked No.1 in the country for his age group and No.3 for the age group above him.
He comes in as the No.1180th male for the entire nation, a list headed by Nick Kyrgios – not bad for a kid that is yet to reach double digits.
Camus bowed out against a player nearly four years his senior in the 12U Australian Tennis claycourts championships at the Canberra Tennis Centre, but his tournament is far from over.
Camus is assured to play five matches at the national tournament and remains in the mix for the doubles title.
"The clay is tricky when you're little," Olivier said.
"His best surface is the hard court because he plays an aggressive game, therefore you get value for money really when you hit hard. On the clay it's easier to retreat."
Olivier played field hockey for the French national team as well as tennis, but it's clear where Camus' passion lies.
Each day, after attending Telopea Park primary school, the year 4 student darts across to the tennis courts to replicate the deeds of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils.
"Because I am French, he likes a couple of the French players," Olivier said.
The youngster also travels to a seemingly endless line of tournaments. Melbourne, Parkes, Ulladulla, Bendigo and Warrnambool – he's been everywhere.
It was at the latter two Camus enjoyed some success.
"He went to Bendigo and he won Bendigo – that was his first junior tour bronze that he won," Olivier said.
"The junior tour events are ranked from white, bronze, silver, gold, and [nationals] is a platinum... [then] he played at Warrnambool – that was another bronze.
"That cranked up his ranking. He's been doing well. He's won three junior tours in singles and four in doubles."
While Charlie trains six days a week, Olivier Camus refuses to get ahead of himself as the youngster develops.
"It takes time and depends how he grows and what happens with injuries," Olivier said.
"He's never been injured, not once. Not one day he's missed through injury in three years, so that's good. We try to be careful and just go slowly, but we still train hard."
