Nicholas Ming En Pak is one of Singapore\u2019s most promising junior tennis players and he has a strong parental backing to help him achieve his full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 13-year-old youngster is the top seed at the ongoing ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His dad Derrick, quit his job as an IT professional recently to travel and guide Nicholas to strive in the sport internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is his first tournament he is travelling with me,\u201d said Nicholas. Derrick was quick to add that he hoped to travel with his son for at least the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keeping up to his top billing here, Nicholas blanked Sanaxay Chansomphou of Laos 6-0, 6-0 to earn a place in the quarter-finals. Partnering Leon Ho Wei Xi, as the top seeds in the doubles, they were equally dominant in the 6-1, 6-2 defeat of the Bangladeshi pairing of Rafi Al-Md Jobair Islam to book a semi-final berth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nicholas, who hopes to play Collegiate tennis in the near future, said that he while he wanted to get to the finals, he was wary that this was his first tournament after recovering from an elbow surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In July 2025, Nicholas faced a major setback when he underwent elbow surgery, forcing him to take a seven-month break from competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After an intensive rehabilitation period, he returned to training in January 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the challenges, he has shown great resilience and determination, and his early performance here shows he can only get better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tall youngster achieved a career-high ranking of No. 4 on the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) U14 Junior Tour in April 2025, the first Singaporean to reach the milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI tried many different sports like badminton and swimming but it was tennis that I liked and my parents were supportive,\u201d said Nicholas, who began playing tennis at the age of five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He quickly developed a strong passion for the sport. His dedication and competitive spirit were evident from an early age, as he steadily progressed through local and international tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have won plenty of local tournaments but played in only one ITF J30 event. Hope to play more at the higher level,\u201d said the lad, whose favourite player is Italian Jannik Sinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His breakthrough in Singapore came at just nine years old, when he won the National U10 Singles Championship. At age 10, he captured the National U12 Singles Championship and went on to win the U12 title twice more in the same year, establishing himself as one of the country\u2019s top junior players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n