Lenzie tennis star Maia sets sights on pro rankings rise

The 18-year-old left the junior ranks behind at the start of this year and admits she has to pinch herself when she thinks about getting paid to play tennis.

Maia has already enjoyed some encouraging results, including reaching the final of the $10,000 Glasgow indoor hard court event at the beginning of February.

She would eventually lose out to Germany’s Anna Zaja in front of her own fans, but the University of Stirling student followed that up with a semi-final appearance in Sunderland.

And with British tennis having enjoyed increased success in recent months with a Davis Cup triumph and then Jamie Murray and Johanna Konta both joining British number one Andy Murray in progressing into the latter stages at the Australian Open, Lumsden intends to repay the faith show in her too.

She said: “I’ve had a lot of people supporting me, all my friends and family have been there throughout.

“I just came out of the juniors last year and I’ve been playing in several pro tournaments lately so it’s been a good few weeks.

“I made my first final in my hometown, so that made it extra special. I had a good crowd behind me so it was nice to be on court there.

“My aim is to just keep on improving my ranking and get up the ladder as quickly as possible so I can start playing in the bigger tournaments.”

Lumsden was speaking at the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop at the Loughborough University campus, where more than 20 of the country’s brightest athletes were in attendance.

They were offered education seminars on issues such as nutrition, time management and interview techniques, and given mentoring by former Olympic cyclist Bryan Steel, ex-England rugby union player David Flatman, and London 2012 Olympian Adam Gemili.

Maia Lumsden attended the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop, mentored by Land Rover Ambassador David Flatman and Sportsaid Patron Bryan Steel. For more information visit sportsaid.org.uk.