Two former pupils of Woodhouse Grove School have won categories at the Lawn Tennis Association's annual awards at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

Katie O'Brien was female player of the year and Anna Fitzpatrick female junior player of the year.

O'Brien qualified for the WTA tournament at Eastbourne in June and got through to the last 16, defeating top-100 players Jill Craybas and Vasilisa Bardina en route.

She then won her first-ever main draw match at Wimbledon, reached a career-high world ranking of 121 in July and finished the year as the British No 1.

On hearing of the award, O'Brien said: "I'm really surprised to win it - 2007 was a good year but the great thing is that I know I can achieve more in 2008 and I can't wait for the season to start."

Fitzpatrick only played one junior tournament in 2007 but had a superb run in it, reaching the semi-finals of the girls' singles to capture the attention of the British public.

Based at the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy, the Sheffield teenager spent the year playing $10,000 and $25,000 tournaments, reaching the final in Sunderland and semi-finals in Nottingham and Calgary on the way to a career-high ranking of 368.

Fitzpatrick has also had success in doubles, pairing with fellow Monte Carlo student Ana Veselinovic to win a title in Calgary and reach $25,000 finals in Nottingham and Turkey.

Other award winners were Andy Murray (Male Player of the Year), Peter Norfolk (Disabled Player of the year), Great Britain's Davis Cup squad (Team of the Year), Dan Cox (Male Junior Player of the Year) and LTA press officer Rhian Evans (Colleague of the Year).

However, there was a shock for O'Brien when she was omitted from Great Britain's Fed Cup squad for the Europe/Africa Zone Group One matches, which begin on January 28 in Budapest, Hungary.

Captain Nigel Sears has opted for Anne Keothavong, Elene Baltacha, Naomi Cavaday and Mel South, with 16-year-old Jocelyn Rae travelling with the squad to gain international experience.

  • Rawdon Lawn Tennis & Golf Club member Liz Wilson has won an LTA Meritorious Service Award for 2007.
  • A club member since 1953, Wilson has held many positions within both her club and the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association.

A former county president, she has also been instrumental in developing the coaching community within the Yorkshire LTA, having helped to develop the game in countless clubs and schools.

Only six of these awards were granted this year, being announced at the LTA's annual meeting at the National Tennis Centre.

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