St Heliers: Courting stardom

The parents of a young tennis star are selling their home to help him achieve his dream.

8a Wynsfield Gardens, St Heliers.

When Russell Berman began building his family home three years ago, little did he know he would soon be selling it to help propel his son's career.

Sean Berman, who will be 13 next month, is one of the best tennis players of his age in the world. In the past year he's been to the United States five times, to Europe once and back and forth to Australia to compete. In the next few weeks Sean and his coach, New Zealand tennis legend Chris Lewis, will move to California to set up a new home base. Russell, his wife Yael, and their 10-year-old daughter Talya will remain based in New Zealand where Russell has his project management business, but will travel to America to spend time with Sean and accompany him to big tournaments.

"It's a big outlay and a huge commitment, but it's a sacrifice we're willing to make for our son," says Russell. "Sean is incredibly driven, so we'll provide him with the tools and the opportunity to succeed, and then leave it up to him."

Sean meets questions about what he wants with a steady gaze.

"I want to be number one in the world one day, and maybe become the greatest tennis player of all time."

For a boy who spends at least four hours a day, six days a week on a court, his court at home resembles a builder's own house that never quite gets finished. It's still a big rectangle of dirt, although Russell assures us that it will be finished for the property's buyer.

"We bought this site because we knew we could get a full sized court in here, and planned the house around it," says Russell.

The house is built of timber framing and plaster with a cavity system. Sun pours through its north facing windows and floor to ceiling glass doors into the downstairs kitchen and living areas. Upstairs are a study area, the bedrooms and a rumpus/TV room, most of which open onto their own terraces.

Russell used quality products throughout the house - porcelain floor tiles that stay warm in winter thanks to underfloor heating, a granite benchtop, an Ilve oven and custom made kitchen cabinetry and bathroom fittings.

The family, which emigrated from South Africa 10 years ago, has lived in this house for the past two. Russell, Yael and Talya will move to a smaller house while they concentrate on helping Sean make the progression to adult tennis success. Sean will stay with family in Irvine, between San Diego and Los Angeles, with his coach close by. He'll continue to do schoolwork by correspondence over the internet.

"He's a 12 year old who's already living like a fully fledged professional," says Chris Lewis. "It's quite phenomenal what Sean's been able to achieve after spending 30 per cent of his time at tournaments out of New Zealand. All that travelling, at his age, is highly impractical, so basing himself in the US is a sensible move. He's highly motivated because he's played against all the best players his own age, and he knows he's as good as they are. If he's going to keep pace with them, he needs that competition."

Sean will play his last big match in New Zealand for a while at the Heineken Open in Auckland next month, in a singles tournament between the top four 12 year olds in the country. After winning the national 12 and under title three years in a row, he's a pretty sure bet to win. And that's what he loves.

"I love winning tournaments, getting the glory," he smiles, with youthful honesty. "I'm more keen than ever."

In that sense he can't wait to get to California. Whatever the long term outcome, his father thinks the family sacrifice will be worth it.

"The next 10 years will be very interesting," says Russell. "But even if the tennis doesn't work out, he would have had a beautiful ride."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 2+

GARAGE: 3

SIZE: Land 1411sq m, house 408sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Buyers between $2 million and $2.5 million should inspect.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.40pm.

CONTACT: Andy Dye, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 021 795 655, 585 2233 a/h.

FEATURES: Two-year-old plaster cavity house with two living areas and study. Northfacing site has partially-completed tennis court that will be finished if required, or could be turned into a garden or pool area.