Tennis Player Sarah Cousins Fermanagh Herald April Sports Personality gkfh25
Sarah Cousins is the Fermanagh Herald Sports Personality of the Month for April after playing her way to number two in the Irish tennis rankings for her age category. Sarah was delighted to receive the award that recognises the significant improvement she has made over the last 12 months.
“I’m really happy that I got it, I didn’t expect it all and it’s a great feeling.”
The soon to be third year Mount Lourdes student, has been playing tennis since the age of six and what started off as a ‘bit of fun’ became more serious.
“My parents brought me up on a Friday night to the fun night at Enniskillen tennis club and it just started from there.”
This year Sarah, from Enniskillen, has made great strides in her career, shooting up the rankings to number two. She credits her success as the result of hard work and greater experience.
“I’ve always been up in the rankings but it has really been this year that I’ve brought it up to second. I started getting a couple of good wins against really big players that usually when I play it’s close, but I wouldn’t be able to beat them. Now I’m winning those matches. My coaching has really helped me progress to another level.
“I train six days a week, maybe an hour or two each time, but I love it and even playing so much I don’t get sick of it.”
This year to date Sarah has won the Castlebar Junior Open, The West of Ulster Championships and was second in the National Championships. Ahead of her she has a Belfast Boat Club tournament, a big competition in the North and some Dublin tournaments.
With the National Championships at Christmas Sarah is hoping to go one better after being defeated last year by the current Irish number one.
“I’m definitely looking for that number one spot. I beat her two weeks before, but then she beat me again so it’s always usually a close game between us.”
As for the future Sarah is hoping to test herself at a higher level.
“I’d like to do really well in European events and obviously getting number one in Ireland and see how it goes?”
Do we have another Laura Robson in our midst?
“I wish, I’ll see how it goes, at the moment though I will have to keep working hard at school and on the court.”
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