Kenya's youngest tennis champion set to hone playing skills

Kenya's youngest lawn tennis champion will be trained in a top facility in Serbia where produced world class tennis players such as men's world number one Novak Djokovic.

Shakira Varese, a nine-year-old pupil from Braeside School in Nairobi, will spend two weeks in Elite Tennis Academy, founded in 1997 and located 80km from Belgrade.

"We hope the trip will serve as an eye-opener during which she will gauge her performance against some of the best players in her age group because locally, she has no equal," Varese's father Leo Varese said in Nairobi on Monday.

"This is the ideal age for her to embark on such an undertaking because the idea is for her improve her game and compete," he added.

Varese won this year's 12-and-under tournament, which was the first event of 2016 and is currently ranked No. 3 in the category. So far, she has won 32 trophies in tennis.

Elite Tennis Academy is one of the best tennis training facilities in Serbia and offers programs suitable for all ages and all levels of tennis skill, from beginners to professionals.

"The most important thing is that she enjoys the sport. It is good to encourage children in sport because one can never know how far they can go," the national rally champion told Xinhua.

"I always advise her not to fear losing a match because one learns more when they lose by rectifying their mistakes," said the father.

Shakira acknowledged the support she receives from her father and mother, Muna Abdusemed and added that she has never missed a tournament or training session in her young career. Endit