NICOLE PETERSON is plotting a rise up the international tennis rankings – but the Huddersfield player needs some help.
The 16-year-old from Bradley is already among the top 10 Under 18s and top 50 senior women in Britain as well as the top 500 juniors in the world.
And recently, she was selected by the Lawn Tennis Association as one of 420 youngsters to join the AEGON FutureStars programme.
Now, as she finishes her studies at Rastrick High School, she’s planning to go full-time and earn a pro card to play on the women’s circuit and world junior tour.
To do that Nicole, who plays out of Thongsbridge as well as Sheffield Abbeydale, Harrogate and Leeds Carnegie, needs financial backing, and dad Steve is hoping a Huddersfield firm will back her dream.
“Nicole has been playing tennis for 11 years and has steadily worked her way up the rankings,” he said.
“Only three years ago, she was ranked 93rd in her age group in Britain. Now she’s in the top 10 and that’s been achieved while training and playing around her studies.
“Often we’ve been practising up to 11 o’clock at night, and that’s testament to her determination to succeed.
“She certainly has the self-belief and work ethic required, and going full-time will give her a much better chance of progressing further.”
The women’s runner-up at last year’s Sellers International Huddersfield Open, Nicole has already made the last four in British tour events at Sheffield and Bolton this year.
She has also won a county cup and made the quarter-finals of an International Tennis Federation tournament at Nottingham.
Andorra, Norway and Holland have all been destinations in the last six months for Nicole, who can boast six wins from nine singles matches in 2009.
