Edinburgh’s Emma Devine will step up an age group in early May when the capital’s Craiglockhart Tennis Centre hosts the AEGON Pro Series event.

Fifteen year old Emma, based at Belgium’s Justine Henin Academy last year but now back at home full time, has made a successful start to 2010 in junior competitions.

She won the AEGON Grand Prix under 16 Masters title in London, a year young, following her win in the 18 and under Scottish Indoor Open Championships.  In April she reached the doubles final of a junior ITF event in Malta and semi and quarter finals of back to back ITFs in Nottingham.

“This year Emma is playing in ITFs mostly, but also dipping into the $10k events to test where she is and to give her the experience of moving on to that next level to see what it’s like,” said Mark Walker, the coach who has helped Emma since her return to Scotland last autumn. 

Her wild card* into the qualifying event of the $10,000 event will give her valuable experience of the senior game.

“Emma is a good athlete to work with and she has done a great job and improved a lot,” said Mark. 

“She is very powerful so part of my emphasis is on teaching her that power is not always the answer. 

“She has to be smart with the way she plays, because she can do a lot with the ball now.  Her strengths are her serve and forehand and her backhand is developing as a great shot too.”

Belgium was a good experience for Emma but she returned with an elbow injury, both tennis and golfer’s elbow in her playing arm.  As an East of Scotland Institute of Sport (ESIS) supported athlete she benefits from high performance expertise available to athletes in sportscotland’s institute of sport area network.

“I had a strange technique when I went to Belgium, which progressed into a change in my grip by playing so much,” she said. 

“Every time I hit the ball there was pain and inflammation inside.  For one month I was out completely and then the next month I was off and on. 

“ESIS has helped a lot.  They organised scans, Sue Warwick gave me physiotherapy each week and I have had Strength & Conditioning training; a lot of weights and running and medicine ball work to keep up my fitness.  I feel a lot fitter and stronger.”

Emma has already this year played in $10,000 events in Turkey and Glasgow. 

“In Glasgow I lost 7-6 in the third set of my qualifying match so it was quite close,” said Emma, who will play her first qualifying match on Monday.

“The aim next week is to gain experience and see what the level is like against players in the older age group.   These players are older and more experienced so there is no pressure on me.  I’m looking forward to it and it will be nice to play at home.”

RE-J

*Wild cards have also been awarded to Edinburgh’s Mhairi Brown for main draw and to St Andrews’ Morven McCulloch (based at The Tennis Academy, St George's School for Girls, supported by ESIS) for the qualifying event.  Aberdeen’s Joanna Henderson has entered qualifying.