HOME AND AWAY/ JOHN MORRISSEY: JOHNNY WATTERSONtalks to a young man who has already made big sacrifices in pursuit of his chosen career

JOHN MORRISSEY is a professional tennis player from Dublin, whose junior ranking now puts him at 51 in the world. The 17-year-old, who studied at Gonzaga College before launching his career last season, is based in Belgium and travels with a group of other European players. It is expected that by the beginning of 2010, his ranking will climb into the top 25 in the world, which will give him automatic entry into all of the junior Grand Slam events.

"Yes, Belgium can get cold and miserable just like Dublin but I've been here now for almost two years and it's going very well. It was a really tough decision to leave Dublin, my friends and family to come and base myself here but after I sat down with my parents and discussed it we decided to go for it. It was definitely the right thing to do.

"I'm based in a tennis academy just outside Brussels and I'm travelling to tournaments with four other guys from Holland, Belgium, France and Scandinavia. The academy is Justine Henin's Academy. She is here training all the time because she is in the process of making a comeback. I've hit with her a number of times.

"She's very professional on court, incredibly focused. She doesn't spend too much time on court but she is very intense in what she does. You could definitely take a leaf out of her book.

"I travel quite a lot to tournaments. In January of this year I was in Australia for the Australian Open. Then I went to Asia for some Grade One events. I came back to Europe for Wimbledon and Roland Garros in Paris and after that went to Morocco and then over to America for the Open and three other tournaments. After the USA I came home to spend three or four days with my family in Dublin.

"I find that when I travel it is very hard to put on weight. I either don't like the food or there is no food available. But I really look back and judge places on how I do. If I do well and don't like the place, I then like it because I've done well.

"Now the pressure is all for next year. I'm sort of in pre-season now, changing a few things that need changing, technical, tactical and physical things. I'm 17 years-old which means I have another year in the juniors, although I also hope to play in senior events as well and get into the ATP tournaments.

"For that I need to get stronger. I haven't played in senior tournaments yet and the plan is to combine the two. I'm currently ranked at 51 in the juniors but at the end of this year the players who are 18 years-old go out because they are too old for juniors and I should be in the top 25 in the world. So, I'm really happy with what I've been able to achieve this year.

"I was in Gonzaga until I was 15 years-old and that's when I made the decision with my family to live in Belgium. I felt I had to learn French so I took some classes before I went over and now I can speak French fluently.

"There are a lot of things I miss, like friends and living that life. I definitely miss friends. I can't party or drink. I can't share that experience and I have to be strict in what I eat, drink and sleep to be able to give it 100 per cent on court. But I am disciplined about it.

"When the new season starts in Australia I hope to play in all of the junior Grand Slam events again. Last season I did the circuit and I'll definitely feel more experienced this time around. A lot of players now know me and I know them. Everyone in the top 50 to 70 in the world knows each other so you have to learn to adapt your game, how to play other guys. If I play someone and win and then he plays someone else and loses, it doesn't automatically mean that I will beat the second guy.

"This season it is important to see how I can do in the junior Slams and the Futures (senior) tournaments. I'm pretty sure I'll go on the full-time tour. I feel I have the tools to make it. It's not just tennis talent, but you have to be able to make the sacrifices too and I believe I can do that.

"Before Christmas I'm playing in two tournaments in Florida, the Eddie Herr and the Orange Bowl. My ranking got me into both events. They have a main draw of 64 players. For the Slams and Grade one events there are always 64 players.

"All the very good players are starting early. I feel that starting at 19 or 20 years-old is a little late. If you start then you are setting yourself back a good few years, so I feel that now, even though it's tough, I'm making the right decision.

"When I go to Australia in January my goal is to make the Australian Open (junior) semi-finals. I might even be seeded. But I feel this year, having done it for a year, that I now have the experience."