This past year, tennis player Novak Djokovic had one of the best seasons in history. Although his record was near perfect, don’t be surprised if freshman Will Sharton tops it.

Sharton began playing tennis at the age of seven and now plays around six hours a week. All that practice has certainly paid off; currently, Sharton is ranked third in New England in his age group.

But Sharton did not achieve this status without hard work. Each week, Sharton plays at two different clubs, the Natick Racket Club and the Thoreau Club. On weekends, Sharton dedicates his time to tournaments.

When Sharton was younger, his parents encouraged him to play tennis.

“Well both of my parents play, so I grew up playing tennis,” said Sharton.

Sharton began playing tennis just for fun, but it quickly became more than just a hobby.

“When I was 10, I started playing tournaments, and I started winning,” said Sharton. “So I played more.”

With this newfound success, Sharton realized his talent and knew that he couldn’t let it go to waste.

Although Sharton remembers getting crushed during his first tournament, he didn’t let his first impressions get the best of him as he continued to practice hard and play in tournaments.

Sharton also played basketball and soccer, but he stopped playing other sports to focus more time on tennis.

During the summer, Sharton still stays hard at work on tennis by attending camps that prepare him for tournaments.

While Sharton is known for his success in playing singles matches, he also plays doubles. His usual doubles partner is Weston Brach, who is also ranked in the top five tennis players in New England. Together, Sharton and Brach make an unstoppable duo.

A few weeks ago, Sharton played in a doubles tournament and won. He hopes to replicate those results in his upcoming singles tournament on October 15th.

While Sharton has been successful in tournaments, he hopes to continue his success at the high school level.

“I play better when the team is counting on me,” said Sharton. “I like the pressure.”