Jack Pinnington-Jones has been marked out as one to watch after becoming the first UK player to reach the final of the Longines Future Aces tournament in Paris last month.

The New Malden-based Tennis Avenue Academy 12-year-old starred at the event which runs parallel to the French Open and pits 16 of the world’s best U13 players against each other on a specially built clay court next to the Eiffel Tower.

Pinnington Jones defeated Hong Kong’s Hoi Man Kevin Wong (4-1 4-1), United States youngster Jameson Ryan Corsillo (3-5 4-2 [7-5]) and home favourite Arthur Cazaux (4-1 04 [7-3]) on his way to the final against Xiaofei Wang of China.

But the Chinese opponent proved too strong on the day and won convincingly 4-0 4-0 to lift the title.

Pinnington-Jones, the UK’s number two in his age group, has won four Tennis Europe titles this year – in singles and doubles – and reached the singles finals in two others.

He has also helped Great Britain finish as runners-up in the HEAD Winter Cup.

His success in Paris has him confident of competing with the world’s best and Tennis Avenue Academy’s director of tennis Hareen Wasantha believes it will only stand him in good stead.

“Jack has improved very quickly over the past two years and the thing about him is that he thrives on the big occasions,” he said.

“He is also extremely good at figuring out a way to win even from seemingly lost causes.

“These are rare attributes which should bode well for the future.”