Whiley relishing challenge as youngest tennis player in Beijing
Halesowen's Jordanne Whiley is relishing every moment of her first Paralympic Games as she approaches Monday's first day of tennis as the youngest of the 112 wheelchair tennis players in Beijing.
The 16-year-old Warwickshire teenager received a boost today when she was drawn to meet experienced Frenchwoman Arlette Racineux in the first round of the women's singles at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre.
Whiley beat Racineux in three sets in the first round of the Florida Open in April this year after losing the first of their matches.
"It could have been a lot worse and I am quite happy with the draw,” said the British No 2. “I came here with no expectations about how far I would get and will take each match at a time.
“I just want to come away from Beijing feeling that I have played the best I can play and that's all that can be expected of me.
"I've been blown away by my first Paralympic Games so far, the opening ceremony was awesome and the facilities in the Paralympic Village and at the Tennis Centre are superb. I can't wait for Monday to get started. It's very exciting," said Whiley.
The rest of the draw presented a mixed set of matches for Britain's seven other players.
British women's No 1 Lucy Shuker, from Taunton, Somerset, will play Japan's Kanako Domori in the women's singles first round
The Beijing Paralympic Games tennis events begin on Monday at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre.
