The hunt for the next Emma Raducanu is underway at Liverpool Tennis Centre in Wavertree at a tournament she won as a 13-year-old.
The centre is hosting an under-18 international tennis tournament over the next two weeks, between February 6-17.
More than 700 players are expected to take part including participants from Ireland, Ukraine, France, Latvia and the USA.
2021 US Open champion Raducanu won the event as a young teenager back in 2015.
Tournament director Anders Borg believes the event will only continue to grow in the coming years.
He said: “Liverpool has grown into one of the bigger hubs for international junior tennis, which is a great credit to the game and to the LTA who have seen a good market in the area.”
Widnes wildcard Abi Redman, 15, says she’s grateful for the chance to impress close to home.
“It’s really good that they have these opportunities so close to Liverpool, so I can still go to school and play tennis,” she added.
“We’re using these events to get more ranking points and play in the bigger tournaments. Wimbledon is definitely the goal.”
Former World Number 1s Caroline Wozniacki and Novak Djokovic have also participated previously.
Borg believes today’s players can look to the 20-year-old Raducanu in particular for motivation in their own careers.
“She can be a role model, just like Andy Murray has been over the years, to get more kids on the court.”
The boys and girls singles quarter-finals continue throughout today in Wavertree.
