After a training visit to the National Tennis Centre (NTC), Ellie Hanna, an 11 year-old player at the Edgbaston Priory High Performance Centre, tells us about her life as a junior.
How often do you play tennis?
I normally play around four times a week including one individual session. I’m coached by the same person for my individual sessions but different coaches take my squad sessions.
Do you play a lot of tournaments?
I play in a couple of tournaments each month but they are mainly based in my local region. I do travel around the country to play sometimes and I’ve also been to play at a club in Spain once before.
What do you enjoy most about playing tennis?
I love meeting friends, keeping fit and the competitive side of the game – I enjoy training but I prefer playing matches.
What did you do on your visit to the NTC?
I was there for a couple of days with five other players from my squad. We got to spend time on court with Greg Rusedski which was brilliant. I thought I’d get really nervous but he made us all feel very relaxed.
What did Greg teach you?
He taught me about using different racket head speeds and the importance of decision making. I can’t wait to get back on court and put into practice what I’ve learnt.