THE hard work starts now for junior tennis player Abigail Michelow, according to her mum.

The 11-year-old from Langdon Hills has been named on the LTA Future Stars programme for 2014 after receiving support from the scheme last year.

The programme gives support to around 250 players around the country identified by the association as having the potential to succeed in the sport in the future.

But mum Amanda says that the task now is for the Great Berry Primary School pupil to maintain her progression.

“Abigail has just moved up from mini-tennis in September into the full game and it has been nice to see her develop through orange and green mini-tennis and into full ball,” said Amanda.

“It’s a big step up for her but she is doing all right. She has been doing well when you consider that she is competing against players who are aged up to 14.

“I think when they hit the full ball it sorts them out as players and you can see who has the potential. “It’s an important transition for a player because results count a little bit more and there is constant pressure on them.”

Amanda, who works for Essex LTA, said her daughter’s next mission was to be in the top 16 in the 11 and under group by April in order to keep on the Future Stars radar.

The youngster only started playing when she was seven and has made rapid progress, regularly competing in Essex junior competitions.

Abigail currently trains at Virgin Clearview in Brentwood and at the High Performance Centre in Cambridge. Her mum thanked the staff at Great Berry School for supporting Abigail sporting endeavours.