Irish tennis champion from Tipperary will graduate from American academy this year

Zach Murphy’s tennis career has continued on an upward trajectory in recent years.

He finished 2022 as Ireland’s highest ranked Under 18 player after a year when he won the Irish Under 18 national singles championship, and was also a finalist in the doubles at the Irish Junior Lawn Tennis Championship held at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin 4.

He also won international ITF (International Tennis Federation) tennis events in Cork in singles and in Belfast in doubles.

The talented Carrick-on-Suir teenager has been making waves in the sport since he started playing at the age of nine at the Castleview club in his home town. As he progressed through the age groups, he was the highest ranked player at Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16.

He began his studies and training at the Montverde Tennis Academy in Orlando, Florida last January after receiving a scholarship provided by the ITF in partnership with the World Academy of Sport (WAoS), and will graduate next May. 

He made an early impact in the United States by earning the academy’s Most Valuable Player award last May.

During the year Zach also represented Munster at Under 18 and senior level. 

He also won a 2022 Annerville award. The awards across a range of sports will be presented by the Tipperary United Sports Panel at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel on Saturday night, January 21.