BRISTOL tennis hopeful Claudia Hallsworth is keen to make a name for herself as she continues to make strides on the court.

Nine-year-old Hallsworth has already received advice from former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski, after she was selected for the Lawn Tennis Association's National Talent ID Week at the National Tennis Centre, in Roehampton.

After victory in the Torbay Open, regarded as one of the best grade three tournaments in the country, Hallsworth was invited back to London for the National nine-and-under Championships on August 13.

The competition consisted of 16 of the best girls from all over the UK, and Claudia recovered from losing her first two matches in the round robin stage to advance to the last eight, eventually finishing fifth with a 3-3 record.

Claudia trains for up to eight hours a week at Coombe Dingle but is not the only national level nine-year-old player to train at the complex.

Fellow Bristol girl India Britland was also among the competitors at the NTC, and Coombe Dingle coach Martyn Bray was keen to stress the wealth of talent in the area.

"For the (born in) 2000 age group, I would have thought there are probably four Bristol girls in the top 30 in the country."

Bray revealed Hallsworth has been attending one-hour fitness sessions at 6:45am on a weekly basis for the last 18 months – the kind of commitment he believes is essential for British girls to compete internationally.

"The Eastern Europeans are more focused. To keep up with them, our girls must be a little single-minded and dedicate their time to tennis."

Despite the wealth of competition worldwide, Bray still feels the Coombe Dingle girls have what it takes to reach the top, but stressed the importance of being ultra-committed to the sport.

"They must work for two or three hours a day and need massive parental support to make it to the top.

Of Claudia, Bray said: "Potentially she's very good and she's a natural athlete. She shows the potential to go further and compete at a national and even international level in the future."