Elite Player Profiles

Anna Popescu
Age - 15

Ranking - #983 in the world for Under 18s  

Anna has been a member of the Berkhamsted Lawn Tennis Club since she was 6 years old and has been training full time at BETA since January  2011. In this time she has won numerous regional events and notable an Under 16 International Tennis  Europe event in August 2011. In April 2012 Anna achieved her first  Under 18 world ranking in an International Tennis Federation event  in Nottingham. Anna continued her rise up the ranking and started 2013 inside the top 1000 in the world! Anna will be competing in International events all over Europe culminating with the Orange Bowl Championships (junior world championships) in Florida in December. 

Edward Harwood

Age -17

Ranking - #1880 in the world for Under 18s   

Edward has been part of the BETA team since the age of 11 where he played once a week due to school commitments. Since July 2012 he has been training full-time. Edward is a classic late bloomer and over the past 9 months has begun to catch a lot of his peers. In November last year, Edward achieved his first ITF ranking points, which have given him an Under 18 world ranking. Edward has also increased his UK rating by 5 categories. In 2013, Edward will be competing in International events all over Europe and working towards qualifying for the Orange Bowl Championships (junior world championships) in Florida in December.

Larissa Gungah

Age -13

Ranking - #19 in the UK for her age

Larissa has been training with BETA since September 2008.  During her time at BETA she has increased her UK ranking from outside the top 100 to inside the top 20. Larissa has also competed in and won many regional events which have allowed her qualification to the bigger National events.  In April 2013, Larissa played her first Under 18 International event (ITF) at the age of 13! In 2013 she will be competing in Grade 2 events in the UK and International events in Ireland.

Joel Pierleoni
Age - 10
Ranking – finished the Winter season #7 in the UK for Green ball players (6 months young)

Joel has been training with BETA for 3 years.  Joel's potential was first noticed when he joined the club as a 5 year old. Joel has worked his way through the coaching structure at the tennis club to reach BETA at the age of 7 in September 2011, the youngest player to participate in  any BETA programs! Joel has been fast tracked by the LTA and will be competing in his first season of yellow ball this Summer (6 months young), playing competitions all over the UK. Joel will also be playing International events in Italy in 2013.

Sophia Mezzone
Age - 10
Ranking – LTA regionally rated player

Sophia has been training with BETA for 12 months.  Sophia has represented the county and the region in all mini tennis categories. She has now been fast tracked to move into yellow ball events in Summer 2013. In 2013, Sophia will be competing and training in Spain and Russia, as well as playing National events all over the UK. Sophia has also been spotted by the WTA Junior Initiative program. This program gives young female players the opportunity to attend WTA events and meet and learn from the current professional top 100 players!