Dallas’ dream to be queen of the court
Dallas Ehau doesn’t just want to play in the world’s biggest tennis tournaments, she wants to win them all.
“I want to be number one in the world.”
The 11-year-old prodigy and has already surged to the top of the national rankings and is up for Junior Sportswoman of the Year at the Nelson Sports Awards.
“I didn’t know I was going to be in that, it was a bit of a surprise but pretty cool.”
The former Richmond Primary student recently moved to Auckland to further her career.
Mother Tracey King says this has been hugely beneficial to her game as she has joined the prestigious Lavie Tennis Academy.
Dallas has also made the shift to online learning at Te Kura to enable her more time for tennis and to travel for tournaments.
Dallas is ranked number one in New Zealand for 12 and under girls, a title she says she is very proud of.
The highlight of a very successful season came at a tournament in Australia where she played the best tennis of her life, blitzing the competition.
Dallas won all four matches in two sets - 6-0, 6-0, in a dominant performance.
She also competed in the Rod Laver Tournament where she lost her quarter final to the number one ranked Australian.
Dallas says she thrives on the challenge of individual sports.
“I like that you don’t have to rely on other people, I’ve never really played team sports.”
Like many athletes, Dallas training has been hampered by the impact of Covid-19.
Unable to train for several weeks, Dallas has just got back on court in the last month as she prepares for nationals in two weeks’ time.
She is set to enter the singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Most of Dallas’ development came in her namesake city in the United States where her family moved when she was six.
“We wanted a bit of a family adventure and as her father and I had been before we knew that area and thought it would be a good central place.”
The couple had such an affinity for the Texas city, they named their daughter after it.
However, when Covid began running rampant in the US, the family opted to move back to New Zealand.
Despite the disruption, Dallas’ progression and desire has not been hampered as she chases her Olympic and Grand Slam dreams.
“She is very grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves,” says Tracey. “It was a dream to represent New Zealand at such a young age and she hopes to do so many times in the future.”
The ASB Sports Awards will be presented by Sport Tasman via livestream on the Sport Tasman Facebook page and the Nelson App from 7pm - 9pm on
Friday, 3 December.