Brandon Burke in action at the Cable & Wireless/ITF Jamaica Juniors tournament at the Liguanea Club. Burke won the boys' Under-12 title on Sunday.
-Rudolph Brown photoTym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
BRANDON BURKE is pretty much your average 11-year-old.
In the simple, uncluttered world that pre-teens live, his 'passions' are the usual staples - sport, music and food.
However, when it comes to tennis, Brandon, the son of Jamaica's national coach, Douglas Burke, is 11 going on about 30. Off the court, his observations of the world's top professional players are concise and accurate.
A few years ago, while his father and another were chatting about then world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt's prowess, Burke the Younger piped up: "yeah, but he needs a weapon". From the mouths of babes.
TENNIS FAMILY
Growing up in a tennis family, travelling with the Jamaica Davis Cup team since he was a pup and attending some of the world's greatest tournaments with dad and mum, Anne-Marie, has made Brandon a tennis sponge.
Nowhere is this more apparent than when he takes the court. During the recent Cable & Wireless/ITF Jamaica Juniors event at the Liguanea Club, New Kingston, the Campion second former literally and figuratively towered over the boys' 12 and Under section.
Burke was rarely troubled as he ripped through the field on his way to the crown. In the final he met feisty Netherland Antillean Justin Tjohn and systematically dismantled him with an array of strokes beyond his years. His game is built around a power forehand but is well complemented by slice and topspin backhands and the odd drop shot for variety.
"No one can beat Brandon," Tjohn, several inches shorter and much slighter than the victor, said.
Brandon's main coach, David Sanguinetti, concurred.
TOP PLAYER
"He's definitely the top player in his age group in the region," Sanguinetti said. "He's going to have to step up soon and play 14 and Unders and even 18 and Unders to keep moving forward.
"Brandon's one of the best prospects at his age that I have seen. He has great hand-eye co-ordination, tremendous variety in his game, which he knows how to use, and a lot of confidence."
For his part, the player is pretty happy with how his game is shaping up.
After the final, he said: "My serve, fitness and backhand have improved a lot but I still have to work on my fitness."
That's another fact Sanguinetti agrees with.
"He's big for his age," he said. "We've been trying gym workouts and diets because he's a little on the heavy side and he needs to improve his overall speed.
"That's the only thing that will hold him back," the coach said.
DEVELOPMENT
Naturally, Douglas also plays a hand in the development of his son, but says he tries "not to push him".
"I try to manage him from a distance," Douglas said. "I don't want it to affect our father/son relationship, you know, be around 24 hours a day.
"I don't force it at all, it's his call. He loves the game but he's a funny guy and he just tunes out sometimes."
Through his father, Brandon has seen some of the world's best in full flight at four US Opens and two Wimbledons and wastes little time naming the player he most admires.
"Andy Roddick. He fights a lot when he's down and shows a lot of emotion on the court and I can relate to that," says the youngster known for more than the occasional fist pump and loud "C'mon!" on the court. "I like to watch (world No. 1 Roger) Federer but to play like him is impossible."
FINAL MAJOR ASSIGNMENT
Brandon's final major assignment for the year will be the prestigious Orange Bowl tournament in Florida in December. He lost a tough three setter in the second round of the 12 and Unders last year and expects to do better this time around.
"I am a lot fitter than last time and playing better, too," he said.
The Orange Bowl is a definite step up in class with the world's best youngsters on show.
"Some of those European kids make Brandon look small," Sanguinetti said. "He's big here (in the Caribbean) but up there it's a different story but I think he'll do well if he plays as well as he can.
"He's a difficult person to coach some times, he has a mind of his own."
Aaah, now that's an 11-year-old.
