Former Mansfield Youth Mayor Tanna Nita has won a tennis scholarship to study at Coppin State University, Baltimore.

Tanna will spend four years in the USA, taking a degree in entertainment management alongside a daily two-hour tennis training session as part of the scholarship.

“I’m hoping to improve my game massively, make new friends and come back with a brilliant degree,” she said.

Before leaving, Tanna was given the chance to train one-on-one with Mansfield’s star tennis veteran Ann Brown, three times a veterans’ singles winner at Wimbledon.

Ann, a long-time member of Mansfield Lawn Tennis Club, received The Roger Copestake Mayor’s Special Achievement Award in December at the Mansfield Sports Recognition Awards.

She said “We had a great hit together and Tanna is so enthusiastic. It started pouring down with rain while we were playing, but neither of us wanted to stop.”

Ann said Tanna had the athleticism, strength and speed on the court to succeed.

“We worked on her forehand and in no time at all she had her timing right. She will get more consistent through practice,” she said.

Tanna said: “Meeting Ann has inspired me so much because she is a Wimbledon champion. She gave me some pointers and it’s great to have those kinds of tips from someone who has accomplished so much in tennis.”

“I’m slightly nervous about going (to the USA) but I will get the chance to travel across America, play at different colleges and have the opportunity to better my game.”