Game, set, match

Rising Star&

TALENTED local tennis play, 11 year old Ellen Perez from Shellharbour could well be a name we will be hearing more of in the years ahead if her current track record is anything to go by.

Ellen has just returned from Mackay, Queensland where she played for the Combined NSW Primary Schools tennis team in the PSSA Bruce Cup tennis competition.

She was one of only seven girls selected from across NSW to represent her state. Her team finished the competition close runners up to Victoria.

Following the Bruce Cup, Ellen played in the Canberra Junior Open where she was seeded 9th in the U12s.

Ellen made it through to the semi-finals where she went down to the number 1 seed, a Victorian girl who then went on to win the competition.

Ellens next challenge is the Sydney Junior Tournament later this month, but for now its training, practice, school and more training for the young tennis player.

Her talent has not gone unnoticed either.

Member for Illawarra, Marianne Saliba has just present Ellen with a cheque for $400 from the NSW Government.

In recognition of the ongoing costs of enabling Ellen to compete in such tournaments as the Bruce Cup, I have had the pleasure of presenting Ellen with a $400 grant on behalf of the Department of Sport and Recreation, Ms Saliba said.

Ellens record of achievements as a representative player and competitor in tournaments is too long to list!

Im sure that shell be a player to look out for in the future and I wish her continued success.

Certainly success seems to be high on Ellens agenda.

I love tennis, she said.

My goal is to one day play professionally, if Im good enough.

As far as good enough is concerned, the Stella Maris year 5 student is showing all the right potential.