A TEENAGE tennis starlet will fulfil a lifetime ambition this month as she joins the game’s biggest stars on court at the ATP World Tour Tennis Finals.

Joanna Rimmington, of Ashingdon, will join 29 other youngsters at the event, held at London’s 02 Arena, next week having got through a rigorous selection process to be named a ‘ball kid’ at the season-ending competition.

The event sees the best eight male singles players and doubles teams in the world compete in a knockout tournament, with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and new World Number One Andy Murray taking part.

And Rimmington, who plays tennis for David Lloyd in Gidea Park, said she couldn’t wait to get started.

“It is very exciting to be a part of such a massive event,” said the 15-year-old. “I went to a trial at the National Tennis Centre on October 1 and there were loads of 12-16-year-olds bidding to be picked.

“I was told a few days later I had been chosen and it was great, as there are hundreds of applications from across the country.

“I have never been a ball kid before so this is all new to me but it is very exciting at the same time.”

Rimmington recently spent a week with the other successful applicants in Southampton, fine-tuning her preparations ahead of the weekend.

She will now head up to the arena on Saturday where she will stay in a London hotel and possibly meet the players as well as interacting with those watching in dedicated ‘fan zones’.

And the Southend High School for Girls pupil says she hopes she will get to step out on court alongside Murray, after he usurped Djokovic last week to climb to the top of the rankings for the first time in his career.

“I would love to be on the same court as Andy Murray,” she said. “He has done brilliantly to make it to World Number One and he would be my pick to win.”