Wynn Vale's Brad Mousley wins back-to-back Australian Open boys double titles

WYNN Vale's Brad Mousley used to sleep with a tennis racquet in his bed, but his dad Craig could never have imagined his Australian Open success.

WYNN Vale's Brad Mousley used to sleep with a racquet in his bed, but his dad Craig could never have imagined the success he would have on the tennis court.

Mousley, 18, won a second consecutive Australian Open boys doubles title after he and Austrian playing partner Lucas Miedler beat French pairing Quentin Halys and Johan Sebastien Tatlot, 6-4, 6-3, at Melbourne Park on Friday.

The triumph came the same day Mousley made a Grand Slam singles semi-final for the first time, which he lost 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 to the world No.1 junior, Germany's Alexander Zverev.

Craig, who coaches his son but rarely travels with him, says Brad has come a long way since taking up the sport 12 years ago.

"It's always a nice dream that (success) may happen one day … but now that it has happened I'm just so proud of him and everything he has achieved.

"A lot of hard work goes into it, not just on court but behind the scenes.

"He gets everything he deserves but for that to happen you've still got to pinch yourself to make sure that you're not dreaming.

"To achieve something like that is fantastic and something that can never get taken away from him."

Mousley was six when he began his journey in the sport at Golden Grove Tennis Club, where his dad was a long-time coach.

"There were always plastic bats or balls around the place and he'd pick up a bat, go play and hit balls against the wall," Craig recalls.

"He even used to sleep with a tennis ball or racquet on his bed at different stages."

Mousley began playing against men when he was 11 before going on to win national singles titles at under-14, under-16 and under-18 levels.

Before the Australian Open, Mousley - ranked 24 in the world in juniors and outside the top 1500 in men's tennis - had never progressed past the second round in singles from five junior Grand Slams.

Mousley was competing at the Burnie International tournament in Tasmania at presstime.

Beyond that he is set to return to SA to compete in tournaments at West Lakes, Happy Valley and Port Pirie in coming weeks then turn his attention to the French Open, which starts in May