A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Barry schoolboy inspired by tennis legend Rafael Nadal has adopted his idol's winning ways.
Year 2 Barry Island primary pupil Danny Mickelsen, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes aged two, has become only the fourth person in South Wales, born in 2006 or later, to have triumphed in the Lawn Tennis Association's structured mini tennis system in the red1 (eight and under) category.
He won his first South Wales tournament last weekend - the David Lloyd World Tour Rome Open - and hopes to progress to the finals in some of the higher graded South Wales tournaments over the next few months while hoping to be invited to the South Wales Junior championships in August.
He also aims to move up to orange category competition in September.
Grand Slam champion Nadal sent a signed photograph and wrote to the plucky youngster when, aged two-and-a-half, he was diagnosed with the condition and his parents Penny and Gary - one of Barry's London 2012 Olympic torch bearers - wrote to the player seeking something to which their son could aspire.
The kind-heated player deftly lobbed an encouraging reply - a photograph with the words: "To Danny, Keep on Fighting, Rafael Nadal."    
Danny, a left-hander like Nadal, achieved his weekend success despite his insulin pump falling out mid-match and ripping out his needle.
Mum Penny said: "Danny needs blood sugar testing - finger pricks - between matches.
"Most tournaments involve at least four matches at mini red stage and he will need testing between sets when he starts playing full tennis in a couple of years. 
"Wearing the pump means he needs shorts or trousers with zipped pockets and drawstring waist to keep pump secure and prevent the weight of it pulling his trousers down while playing!"
Danny was the youngest player, aged four-and-a-half, to join Barry Tennis Club and begin lessons with the policy normally to accept children from the age of five.
Tennis mad mum-of-three Penny said: "As Danny has Type1 diabetes, the regular breaks in tennis suit the management of his condition perfectly, allowing regular blood sugar testing and snacks or adjustments to insulin as required.
"Danny also tried lots of other sports, but tennis remained his favourite and the number of sessions he attended gradually increased."
During winter months he attended Penarth Lawn Tennis club when sessions didn't run at Barry as his coaching team, Vale Tennis Academy, also provide coaching there.
Penny added: "About a year ago, Danny was asked if he'd like to take part in a team match for Penarth LTC and despite losing his four matches he  caught the competition bug.
"In autumn last year he started competing on a more regular basis, to the point where now he has at least one competition nearly every weekend.
Danny's diabetes offers some additional challenges - not just because of activity levels and energy consumption - but also because adrenaline affects the body's own hormone responses.
Penny, now junior development officer at Barry Tennis Club, said she hoped to provide better facilities to encourage children to get involved with the sport.
Daughter Grace, five, is already showing promise and taking part in local events and 19-month-old son Scott's favourite toy is his mini tennis racquet.
Danny, who also rates Novak Djokovic because "he slides around a lot" like he enjoys doing, said: "I love tennis. I'd like to play it every day. If someone pays me to play tennis when I'm older, that would be really good."