Anna Fitzpatrick has been given a tough target in 2008.

The former Woodhouse Grove pupil has been asked to half her Women's Tennis Association ranking from her year-end mark of 383.

From a ranking of 1,102 in December 2005, the 18-year-old rose to 676 in the space of 12 months and is currently 357 in the world.

"We fully expect her to achieve her target," said David Law, spokesman for the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy where the Sheffield-born teenager is based.

Fitzpatrick's fledgling career has had more highs than lows - for example, she reached the semi-finals of the girls' singles at Wimbledon last July - but Law says the dips are to be expected.

He explained: "The key is the roadmap. We have a clear plan, so when she wins or loses the work-rate and the goals remain the same.

"Resilience to disappointment is a major asset needed in sport and Anna is pretty resilient. We quickly get back to work after a loss, which helps clear the head."

The coaching staff at the Monte Carlo Academy are trying to improve the positive aspects of Fitzpatrick's game.

Law said: "We consistently keep working on her ability to attack and play the net. This is her strength and what distinguishes her from most players. It takes longer to learn but we believe the rewards will reflect our faith in this game-plan."

Fitzpatrick's season so far has consisted of two $25,000 tournaments in the United States - one at Tampa in Florida and the other at Surprise in Arizona.

The old Grovian was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by Kristina Kucova (Slovak Republic) in the last 64 of qualifying at Surprise and Law said: "We are sticking to US Challengers until the end of March rather than playing in qualifying events for the main tour.

"These Challengers are tough and we firmly believe that a semi-final or better in a couple of these are the surest sign that Anna is ready for the main tour.

"If this is not achieved, we will try again in the autumn in the States because the experience of this three-month run stateside will pay off sometime this year."

Fitzpatrick, who lists her interests as music, languages, swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling, has also taken a large chunk off her doubles ranking. Having been 798 at the end of 2006, she went into 2008 with a ranking of 321.

Fellow Old Grovian Naomi Broady made good use of the wild card that was given to her for a $10,000 tournament in Sunderland.

The 17-year-old defeated qualifier Anna Brazhnikova (Sweden) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, third seed Katie Ruckert (United States) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 and Estelle Guisard (France) 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals, where she bowed out 6-4, 6-2 to top seed and eventual runner-up Johanna Larsson (Sweden).

In the doubles, Broady and Patrycja Sanduska (Poland) and Huddersfield's Danielle Brown and Lancastrian Liz Thomas both reached the quarter-finals.

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