One young Totally Tennis junior players has used the last few months to focus on improving her tennis skills. Eight-year-old Jasmine Paul, who attends St Marys Junior School, didn’t let the enforced lockdown and closure of tennis courts stop her keeping fit and practising at home.
Jermaine, Jasmine’s father said;” Before lockdown we never trained in the garden but during lockdown Jasmine wanted to focus on her favourite sport ‘tennis’ more than others.”
The Dodgers squad player was one of the first back at the centre when permission was given by the government to re-open outdoor courts, she was training in the smaller squad sessions with tennis director Nigel Long and practising daily with her dad and younger sister Roxanna.
Jermaine added, “Jasmine is very motivated and often gets me up at 7am to hit the courts early. She sets her own alarm and wakes me up along with her sister to take her out to the courts or garden for a session first thing in the morning.”
Jasmine started playing tennis about 18 months ago and joined Totally Tennis after attending one of the club’s free open days which was her first real introduction to tennis. She loved the open day so much that her parents signed up her up for the weekly Dodgers squad sessions. She has also attended the club’s school holiday tennis camps and played in some competitions at the indoor centre.
Since lockdown, tennis has proved to the one sport she wanted to do in her daily exercise time, drawing from squad session activities she has enjoyed playing with her younger sister and father.
Alongside tennis Jasmine enjoys participating in a lot of other sports. She started gymnastics from the age of one which included ball co-ordination skills that has helped with her tennis, she also participates in swimming, athletics, and kickboxing. She plays in a FA U10 girls football team and competes in kickboxing competitions.
Jermaine said of his daughter’s dedication, “She always tells me and her younger sister, if you train hard you will become the best. It’s a very simple motto but one she has lived through all her sports and is now bringing this mindset into tennis.”
“Jasmine loves being on court. Her passion comes from the energy of the sport. Having competed in kickboxing tournaments for many years she has enjoyed the ownership of individual competition. She loves the pace and variety of movement along with the strategy in tennis. Similar to her martial arts and other sports. Tennis embodies all of the different sports that she has practiced over the last few years.“
Well done Jasmine! Keep up the motivation and hard work.
Photos kindly provided and used with permission of Jermaine Paul
Tillie Reid and Isla Hignett were crowned 18 & under doubles champions at the Woking FAST4 tournament
Isla was also runner-up in the 18 and under Girls singles event
The coaching team visited local schools delivering tennis taster sessions as part of this year’s Totally Tennis Schools Roadshow
Juniors who attended the schools roadshow were invited to a FREE open day at the club for the chance to play on real courts and enjoy fun games
Totally Tennis defended their unbeaten record in the annual Festival of Sport against Euskirchen 13 – 1. Overall the Basingstoke sporting community won the event 22 – 7
Basingstoke & Deane mayor Diane Taylor (left) popped down to the outdoor courts for a game
Totally Tennis performance players Isla Hignett and Atinuke Adelakun from Robert Mays School won the Hampshire Schools U16’s Doubles title
Children who attend the fun open day will be invited to join our junior squad programme. For more information about the junior squad programme telephone 01256 358816or e-mail 