TENNIS ace Josh Goodall has defied the odds to enjoy the best summer of his young career.

The Basingstoke ace reached the semi-finals of last week's national under-18 championships to follow up an excellent display at junior Wimbledon where he reached the last 16.

On top of all that 16-year-old Goodall received the good news on Thursday that he would leave Cranborne Secondary School with nine GCSE passes.

Dad Gary is delighted with his achievements, but criticised the state school system for being rigid and not helping Josh combine both his tennis and education.

He said: "It has been very tough for Josh this year to fit in his tennis and schooling.

"He was at a comprehensive school and the authorities enforced that he had to fully complete all of the curriculum, even subjects that weren't examined.

"It put him at a big disadvantage compared to tennis players at private schools, who were allowed to be much more flexible with their schedules.

"Earlier in the year he was having to train or play in tournaments and then sit down and do his revision or coursework at 10pm.

"We're glad he has got through it now and can concentrate on his tennis, but I feel that the comprehensive system should do more to help gifted sportsmen and women.

"There was absolutely no leeway at all which was disappointing given that he is one of the best prospects in the country."

Goodall confirmed his talent last week at Nottingham when he defeated a string of older players to reach the last four of the under-18 national championships.

Seeded number ten, Goodall breezed into the third round without dropping a set after a 6-4, 6-4 win against Kent's Peter Travella and a 6-2, 6-4 win against Lan- cashire's Christopher Parkes.

He was then matched against Hampshire teammate Alex Miotto for a place in the quarter-final.

Goodall established immediate ascendancy and raced to a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

In the last eight he comfortably defeated Cheshire's Ben Bright 6-2, 6-4 to set up a semi-final showdown with tournament favourite Matthew Smith.

Goodall, who earlier in the year beat Argentinean world junior number one Brian Dabul, took the first set 6-4 and at 4-3 and 40-15 up in the second set, an upset looked on the cards.

But with his back against the wall Cheshire's Smith produced a string of brilliant returns to clinch the initiative and record a narrow three-set victory.

Goodall, who is coached by Mike Raphael at the Centre Court tennis club in Basingstoke, took up tennis at the age of four when his family were living in Western Australia.

They moved to England when he was nine and he is now looking for sponsors to help him play full-time in a bid to reach the top 50 in the junior world rankings and also make a mark on the senior game.

He has been selected in the England team for the Four Nations Cup in Ireland in September and will also play in tournaments in Japan and Hong Kong in October.