Winner in U-12 AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament

Having been a tennis player since she was four years old, Aksheeta from Grade 6 has been practicing and playing the sport for eight years. During the Spring Break Aksheeta took part in the AITA U-12 Talent Series Tennis tournament, where she managed to become runner up in the Girls’ Singles and the winner in the Girls' Doubles. We reached out to Aksheeta to learn more about her success in the tournament and plans for the future.  

It feels amazing that all my hard work has finally paid off – Aksheeta, Grade 6 

Aksheeta is practicing tennis three hours per day and five days per week. In case she has the time during the weekend, she goes to the courts in the community and practices the serve. Aksheeta is Girls U-12 India No. 83, which means that she does not need to play the first rounds in singles. She won her first match by keeping all her shots on the right side of the court. In the second match that Aksheeta won, she noticed an advantage and kept benefiting from her opponent's weakness. The third match was won as well by making the opponent run in different directions, an opportunity which gave her chances to earn points. “In my last match, I came runner-up but I played as well as I could”, says Aksheeta, who then started the Double Tournament.  

Aksheeta and her partner did not have to participate in the first round, as they both accomplished first and second place in the singles. “Our first match was really fun. We got to include all of the tactics and signs we had learned in practice. We did this for all our matches till the finals. The finals match was a close one", says Aksheeta, who along with her partner lost the first set, but came back and won the second set and won the match tiebreak. “It feels nice to have an achievement to be proud of and enjoy the moment but each tournament comes and goes”, says Aksheeta, who is planning to prepare and focus on doing well in the next tournament. “My dream is to be women's world No.1 and to be a grand slam champion. I know it will be difficult but I'm willing to put in all the hard work and do whatever it takes to achieve it.”