Ifeoma Kuchler

Tennis star is set to seal a top national ranking

TENNIS ace Ifeoma Kuchler is set to become one of highest ranked 10-year-olds in the country after hitting the UK summer circuit with a vengeance.
The talented 10-year-old, who lives in Elm Village, Camden Town, has been serving up a treat as she takes on all comers in a bid to fulfil her dreams of playing at Wimbledon.
Ife has been in such devastating form this year that when the Lawn Tennis Association tally up her points in two week’s time, she is set to become the second highest ranked 10-year-old in the country, earning a place just outside the national top 50 in the 12 and under category.
In her latest outing, the Royal School pupil was back among the trophies when she won the girls’ 10 and under Grand Prix at the Leverstock Green Junior Open.
The star-smasher also reached the quarter-finals of the girls’ 12s and under category, despite taking on players at least two years older than her.
Ife also recently won a grade three title when she took top spot in the 12s and under Strathgryffe Junior Open in Scotland.
Ife, who trains for over 10 hours a week under the watchful eye of coach Leon Achille at the Islington Tennis Centre in Market Road, is now preparing to defend her Middlesex 10 and under County Championship at Queens at the end of the month.
She will also continue to take on the older age groups after signing up to compete in the 12 and under category.
An energetic Ife told the New Journal: “My dream is to make it all the way to Wimbledon, if I did that – it wouldn’t matter if I won of not. I’d just be so happy to be there and to play on Centre Court.”
But the youngster is keeping her options open: “I’d love to be a tennis player, or a basketball player, or maybe an actress or a fashion designer.”