Scotland’s Susan Hughes has ended the year as Britain’s top woman singles player – ranked world No.31 and above Bank of Scotland International Champion Liz Cann and this year’s Olympic representative, Tracey Hallam. 

It is a great way to end a frustrating 2008 for the Glasgow 26-year-old, who admits she was ‘gutted’ not to make the Beijing Olympics.

The rise up the world rankings has extra significance for Susan since she was dropped from the GB funding programme earlier in the year.

“It was a case of move to Milton Keynes (to train at the National Centre) or lose my GB place,” she explained. “But I have a life and am settled in Glasgow and I didn’t want to move south. I also think it was unnecessary.”

Fortunately, sportScotland stepped in with the financial support to enable Susan, the 2006 Commonwealth Games medallist, to continue as a full-time player.

“We have a great system run by the Scottish institute of Sport and I’m now much happier and feel I am playing better,” she pointed out. 

Off court, Susan is looking forward to a happy event in 2009 – she will marry fiancé Dylan Eaglestaff in May.