Abbeville native is budding tennis star

The world of tennis can be a challenging place for most children.
The practice time that is required is almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but for one Abbeville native that isn’t a problem.
Benjamin Koch is a 12-year old Abbeville native, and is already one of the best tennis players in the 12 and under age group across the south.
Recently, Koch won the Louisiana State Qualifying tournament, making him the best 12 and under tennis player in the state.
After that he moved to North Carolina and won his Compass draw and in the process lost only one round.
Also, in North Carolina Koch and his doubles partner Welsh Hotard, won the North Carolina event, thus making Koch-Hotard the best 12 and under doubles team in the south.
“I was pretty proud of myself,” Koch said. “This is something I want to do for the rest of my life, so the three to four hours a day I practice, plus the workout sessions with a personal trainer make it worth it.”
Koch’s parents couldn’t be anymore proud of their son.
“We are extremely proud of Benjamin,” Koch’s mother Emily Koch said. “Not only are we proud of the awards, but we are extremely proud of the commitment he has. He has given up a lot to pursue playing tennis at this level, and for him to be as disciplined as he is, is incredible.
“He has drive inside of him that he was born with, and that is what sets him apart. It is his workhorse mentality.”
Koch was introduced to the sport of tennis when his father Robert Koch took him out to hit some balls when Koch was three years old, but it was watching the U.S. Open, not long after going to the court with his father that cemented his love for the sport.
Since then Koch has done everything he can to one day compete on center court at Flushing Meadows.
Koch is home schooled so he can spend more time on his tennis.
This is something that Koch wants to do for the rest of his life.
So stay tuned because with a drive and work ethic that Koch already has, one day there is a chance you will see him on the center court of the U.S. Open.