Sheffield-born tennis star, Anna Fitzpatrick, was beaten in the semi-final of Junior Ladies' Singles at the Wimbledon championships.
The eighteen year old's performance probably offers some hope for the future?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Fitzpatrick

They're certainly talking well of her.

Good luck to her, but so often we hear of British female tennis players being tipped as challengers of the future and it never amounts to anything. 4 or 5 years ago Elena Baltacha was being touted as the Next Big Thing, but her career quickly derailed.

Women's tennis, at least for the next few years, seems destined to be a Russian/Eastern European monopoly. The Williams sisters only seem to raise their act for Wimbledon, and I don't see any world-class American players coming up behind them. Australia hasn't produced a top-ranking female player in a couple of decades. Apart from Henin and Mauresmo, there's little talent emerging from western Europe either.

To put it in perspective - while Fitzpatrick is still playing Junior tournaments and is ranked in the 400s, Nicole Vaidisova, who is actually a couple of weeks younger, is already ranked 10 in the world.

Quite agree. Just gave her a mention as I thought her name would be new to many and from Sheffield. I think watching Baltacha is painful! Very impressed with Vaidisova whom I note was born in Germany but she soon capitulated in the next round.
We have a few athletes blooming in the city - they won't be Olympic champions - and as a former teacher, sports journalist - I always try and encourage youngsters doing their best. Everything is relative, they still have to put in the effort and hard work - swimmers come to mind - and it's nice to be able to give them some encouragement along the way. Makes a change from football and my usual cynicism!

I was very impressed with Vaidisova at Eastbourne too, but I'm not convinced it was just for her tennis ability :blush: :love:

Seriously though, she certainly looks a decent player on grass, but I think she might be a bit like Hantuchova, and won't, quite, get, to, the, top.

The Americans are struggling with quality at the moment really.