[*hingis_forever*]

I know she's only 12 years old (born January 10, 1998), but I thought with the success she's already had this year, it would be a good time to start her cheering thread. Not only did she win the Winter Grand Prix Masters 12s without dropping a set, she also won the Super 12 international tournament in Auray, France without dropping a set. There's even a video of the final on youtube. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwh1zKn-11g

It's hard to tell too much from that video but it's nice to see a 12 year old slicing and volleying. Anyway, we don't really need to posting so much in this thread yet but I thought I'd get it started just so we'll be ready if she does something big. Good luck in the future Maia!

[NoChokes]

I like the name Maia, I hope she does well.

(not just because of her name, the more talents the merrier.)

[serenus_2k8]

Which was she in the video? One looked like a younger, scrawnier Katie

[Embittered]

Originally Posted by serenus_2k8

Which was she in the video? One looked like a younger, scrawnier Katie

How to say without being politically incorrect?

The finalists don't look very similar, a quick visit to Google images finds http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oth...rs-rocket.html ...

So Maia was the one in shot for the "balle de match" at 4:52 onwards.

p.s. Feel obliged to point out redundantly that despite the caption in the vid, Maia is not English.

[serenus_2k8]

Where is Maia from then btw? Ahh I see which one she is now, I still think she has a slight look of Katie!

[Embittered]

Originally Posted by serenus_2k8

Where is Maia from then btw? Ahh I see which one she is now, I still think she has a slight look of Katie!

Glasgow, it seems, at least as far as I'm concerned, the locals might make a distinction.

[Embittered]

Maia name-checked in Judy Murray's latest blog. Thankfully, Maia was not one of the players affected by the blunder referred to in the last two paragraphs.

Here's a picture of Maia with the less successful of Mrs. Murray's sons.

p.s. and in JM's final blog from Rome we hear Maia's own voice: http://www.lta.org.uk/Parents/Judys-...me---Thursday/

[*hingis_forever*]

Last week Maia won her first Tennis Europe U14 tournament in Edinburgh. It was a grade 3 and she beat fellow 12 year old, Jazzi Plews, in three sets in the final. This week she is playing another tennis europe u14 grade 3 and is through to the quarterfinal for an interesting match against Kyra Akinnibi.

[Embittered]

Maia lost in straight sets to Akinnibi.

By way of compensation, the LTA have a Getting to know... piece on her.

[serenus_2k8]

I swear she could be Katies child

[*hingis_forever*]

Maia has really started making an impact on the Tennis Europe tour this year and has won two tournaments. Once the 1996 players are removed from the Tennis Europe 14s rankings, she'll be well inside the top 50.

[*hingis_forever*]

Maia made the 3rd roung of Teen Tennis in Bolton, losing to Anastasija Komardina, a talented '97, 62 64. Next week she'll be in Les Petits As with some really talented players competing.

[*hingis_forever*]

Maia is playing Les Petits As starting tomorrow but has been handed one of the toughest opponents in the first round, Ana Konjuh. It will be very interesting to see how Maia fares against one of the best '97 girls in the world.

[Embittered]

Going by the score, Maia was dismantled by Konjuh.

Both are now playing for their respective countries in the Tennis Europe Winter Cup U14; the finals are this weekend. The nominations give their dates of birth, for those of us (like me) who didn't already know them. Although they were born in different years, Maia is just two weeks younger than Konjuh. She seems to have stalled, maybe since the injury. Guess I shouldn't worry too much--the race is not to the swift and all that.

The other GB team members are '97s, Lana Rush and Freya Christie. Maia only played dead and semi-dead rubbers. GB were in Zone D.

p.s. I see I should have known Maia's DoB: *hingis_forever* gave it in the first post.

p.p.s And when I say "are", it's very much "was" in the case of Konjuh. She was let down by her team mate and got eliminated in the first qualifying round.

[*hingis_forever*]

Maia is making her ITF debut in Edinburgh next week but has drawn top seed Sophie Watts. Tough draw, but hopefully Maia goes out there and gives it her all.