Veteran tennis master Sam Maybury caught the gleam of talent in 11-year-old prodigy Daniel Phillips from the get-go.

“I’ve been playing for 50 years, been coaching the majority of champions in Bermuda over the last 40 years — you get to spot it at a young age,” Mr Maybury told The Royal Gazette.

“You can spot it at about two years old. It’s motor skill development and passion. If you’ve got that, you’ve got a winner.”

Daniel, ranked the top under-12 and quickly moving up the ranks of the under-14s, has his sights set on joining the annual training programme at the illustrious Rafael Nadal tennis academy in Spain.

Run by the Spanish pro, who is ranked fourth in the world, the academy is based in Majorca, where Daniel was invited for assessment this summer. His technique and attitude made the cut, and Daniel has started fundraising in earnest to join the programme in September.

“My coach, Uncle Sam, has been there for me my entire life and built me up to where I am now,” Daniel said. “He got me into mostly every sport.”

Tennis swiftly emerged as Daniel’s calling, and in the past five years he has competed internationally with consistently high results.

It has also been Daniel’s vehicle to give back, coaching classes of 25 to 30 students at a time at TN Tatem Middle School and CedarBridge Academy, as well as helping to maintain the courts where he puts himself through gruelling practice sessions.

In addition, he helps his younger brother Andrew, 9, to follow in his footsteps — the junior Phillips is now No 2 in the under-10 category.

“Just keep doing it” is Daniel’s advice. “It doesn’t matter if you aren’t good when you start out. You will get better and better.”

Scottish pro Andy Murray is Daniel’s favourite player, and in the course of his travels, the Pembroke youngster has met some of the greats: aside from meeting Nadal, Daniels now knows that Martin Blackman, the general manager of player development for the United States Tennis Association, has a son by the same name.

Ultimately, Daniel has Wimbledon aspirations, and Mr Maybury believes that the Nadal training will help the young champion to represent Bermuda with distinction.

“I have had the assistance of other tennis professionals that I have developed over the years,” Mr Maybury said. “We’ve all had the opportunity to put our teaching into Daniel. That’s what gives him his edge.”

His coach and family are now calling on the community to help him get to the next level. To find out how to assist, e-mail Sarah Fellows at sfellows@royalgazette.com or call 535-0136.