Updated 24 June 2002, 08.59

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Then I had coaching lessons, got better and was headhunted to be coached at a Welwyn Tennis Academy.

And now I'm the current under-13 tennis champion of Britain.

It's very hard work. I do four hours of practice every day (if I'm not playing in a tournament).

This includes two hours of fitness training - gym work, aerobics, exercising.

Then another two hours out on the court playing tennis and doing drill work - practising different tennis strokes over and over.

I miss quite a few lessons at school because of the training every day.

No excuses

My teachers are okay about it but I still have to do all the work. And the teachers don't let me use the excuse that I was playing tennis as a reason for not doing my homework.

We have to be strict about what we eat, but I eat what I want to. My coach is more concerned that we drink enough water than about eating healthily.

Laura has a similar style to Lindsay Davenport

My favourite tennis players are Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport.

A lot of people say I have a similar style to Lindsay Davenport.

Pressure

The tennis circuit is very competitive, but we're all friends off the court. My coach says it gets harder as you get older.

I do feel there's a lot of pressure on me and I always push myself to do well.

My aim at the moment is to perform well in tournaments in Europe and I'm going to keep working hard on my game and see how far I get.

I'd like to be a Wimbledon champion one day."

Laura, 14, Cuffley

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