WHEN 77-year-old Allan Simmons was coming up he was the only junior tennis player in Bermuda. How times have changed.

Now there are scores of young players hitting the courts ? some will go on to only play the game for a bit of fun while others will want more out of it ? perhaps getting a college scholarship and representing Bermuda in international tournaments. Or even turning pro.

One of those young players who wants a lot more out of the game is 15-year-old Freddy Wade ? Simmons' grandson and the son of the late PLP leader L. Frederick Wade who died 10 years ago.

Simmons, whose daughter Inthia married the PLP leader, has managed to pass his love of the game along to his grandson.

"My grandfather got me into tennis and bought me my first racquet," said Wade who two weeks ago won the Men's B final of the Fairmont Grand Prix when he beat Dennis Harris in three sets ? 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. He also won the C Division beating Lamar Cross 6-2, 6-3. They were just two more trophies he can add to those he has at home ? he won his first trophy when he was "about 11 years old".

Wade said: "I actually started playing when I was about five but I didn't take it seriously until I was 10."

And since that time he has spent a lot of his free time and the summers training and competing. This past year he represented Bermuda in the Junior Davis Cup in Guatemala.

"That was a great experience. We played against the Netherlands (Antilles), Trinidad and Puerto Rico. Playing for Bermuda is a lot different than just playing for yourself. You are representing your country and it is a big deal. I just went out there and tried to do the best I could."

And playing in the hot conditions of Guatemala also gave him an insight into how others live. "After playing down there and seeing the country you realise just how privaleged we are here in Bermuda. It does open your eyes up."

This past summer Wade also went to Florida to the Manders Island Tennis Academy and spent some time at the International Tennis Academy. "We trained there for two weeks and played three tournaments," he said adding that he loves to play in tournaments abroad. "You come up against some very good players ? players who you haven't seen before," he said explaining that playing against a lot of the same people in Bermuda one gets to know their strengths and weaknesses. "That is not the case when you go abroad. You have to figure them out quickly," he said.

Wade plays three times a week but puts in a lot more time during the summer vacation. Right now he is in Grade 10 at Saltus and it hoping to get a tennis scholarship to university.

"I hope to go away next summer and play. My summers centre around the sport now. You also make a lot of friends when you play in overseas tournaments ? I still correspond with some of them now."

And he certainly has the support from his family.

"My mum encourages me and comes to most of my games," he said.

And then of course there is his grandfather, Allan Simmons, who is now the honorary vice president of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association and still competes regularly in seniors events.

Simmons said of his grandson: "There is a lot of opportunities for Freddy and the other young players in Bermuda now compared to when I was a junior. In fact I remember getting a trophy when I was young for being the only junior in a tournament! Over the years I have seen a lot of development in the sport. There are more courts, facilities and tournaments for them and of course they go away and compete."

Of getting his grandson involved in tennis, Simmons said: "I tried to encourage him but I also didn't want to put too much pressure on him. If you do that you can drive someone away from the sport."

Wade also has two other siblings ? in fact they are triplets ? Ceola and Kemela.

Asked if they play he said: "They used to but lost interest. They didn't want to do the same sport as me."