OXFORDSHIRE tennis star Lucy Collinson is aiming to finish her university education and then turn professional, by completely changing her game.

The 18-year-old, from Abingdon, is currently studying sport and physical education at UWIC (University of Wales, Institute of Cardiff), and holds a tennis scholarship there.

And, with help from her new coach Simon Ainley, the Welsh national coach, she is in the process of changing her whole game.

"I knew I needed to change a lot of things," Collinson admitted. "And he told me that I had a lot of natural talent and if I could just develop it a bit further, I'd be able to do a lot more.

"He's changing my forehand and backhand so that their style is the same, and I'm also trying to improve the speed and consistency of my serve."

Collinson is currently the Oxfordshire ladies champion, a title she has held for the past five years. She was also an integral part of the Oxon ladies County Week team that gained promotion last year.

"I'm really looking forward to County Week, and I'm definitely going to play in it," she said. Collinson trains every day at Cardiff, and the £1000 scholarship helps pay for equipment and tournament entry fees.

She has to play at least 60 matches, six Girobank tour events and two Satellite tournaments as part of the deal, and this year she hopes that playing all these events will help her gain a world ranking.

"It's not unrealistic to get a world ranking this year, because I'm playing in Satellites during the summer and, if I can get into the main draws, it's possible to achieve my ambition."

The long-term aspiration of the teenage sensation is to turn professional.

"My aim is to go professional after university, and I want to make a name for myself.

"I'll probably go professional for a year afterwards and then it will depend on how I play, but I really want to make it."

The sign of her determination to succeed is shown by her entering the pre-qualifying for this year's Wimbledon.

"That would be the ultimate aim, to play in any of the Grand Slams. "I'm playing at No 1 for Cardiff in the BUSA (university) matches, and I came third in Great Britain at the individual BUSA Championships."

"I'm also considering going abroad and playing this year, but I need to get the money first," she added.

This week Collinson is in Hampshire to play in a tournament, but isn't worried about winning it.

With the total transformation of her game, she doesn't concentrate on results.

"I focus on each individual match I play," she said. "Results are important, but how I play means more.

She aims to defend her Oxfordshire title this summer, and although her style of play might have changed, her ambition hasn't. She is more determined than ever to make it into the big time.

Story date: Thursday 28 January

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