When William (Year 7) joined Haileybury Pangea in 2025, he found the perfect balance between pursuing his passion for tennis and achieving his academic goals, thanks to the flexibility of online learning.
William’s tennis journey started when he was aged six, inspired by his parents’ love for the sport. “My first time playing was at school during lunch in Prep and one of the coaches thought I was pretty good, so we immediately began private lessons at weekends,” William recalls. Since then, he has competed in numerous tournaments at Victorian venues such as Melbourne Park and Boroondara, and most recently, internationally in China.
Currently, William is participating in an international training program in Hangzhou, China. To train and live overseas required a new approach to his education, and Haileybury Pangea online school provides the ideal solution. The online learning environment allows William to balance his rigorous training schedule with his academic commitment.
William says that choosing Haileybury Pangea for his education has enabled him to manage his studies around his training and tournament commitments. He particularly enjoys the flexibility of the online learning environment, which allows him to attend classes and complete assignments from anywhere in the world, along with the support he receives from his teachers and the School’s pastoral care team.
Earlier this year, William secured third place in Nanjing at the 2026 National Junior Tennis Ranking and TAC Cup Tournament Nanjing Station U14 CTJ B600. He quickly followed this achievement with strong performances in tournaments in Nanchang and Jingshan.
His favourite surface is clay, and in the upcoming months he will be busy as he navigates the local junior tennis circuit, competing in the 2026 National Junior Tennis Ranking Tournament (Nanchang, ZhongChang) U14 Stations 11 and 12 CTJ-A2000 as well as National Junior Tennis Ranking Tournament (Changsha, WangCheng) U14 Stations 15 and 16 CTJ-A2000, which are some of the highest level clay court tournaments for his age group in China. These events are hotly contested, offering significant points towards the CTJ rankings and providing a platform for young players to build their national profiles.
William recently competed at the 2026 (ZhongChang Clay Cup) Junior Tennis Ranking Tournament U14 Station 3 CTJ B-500, where he achieved first place. William says, “it’s like a reward for all the hard work I’ve put into the sport this past year.”
William approaches each tournament with composure, sharing that while nerves are common, he relies on techniques such as deep breathing, staying positive and focusing on the present moment. His favourite player remains Roger Federer, who inspired him in his early years, though he also enjoys watching Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Bublik.
Looking ahead, William hopes to continue pursuing tennis at the highest level and aspires to study at a top Australian university after graduation. The positive experience with Haileybury Pangea has extended to his family, with his younger sister also enrolling in the school earlier this year.
Haileybury Pangea’s commitment to providing a supportive and flexible learning environment ensures that students like William can excel both academically and in their chosen pursuits and passions.
