Before any thoughts of tennis even entered her head, teenage champion Katy Wilson had dreams of being a primary school teacher.
But, while out in the garden one day at the age of seven, she picked up a little plastic pink racquet and a sponge ball for the first time.
Dad Peter, a squash player himself, noticed her natural aptitude for the sport and sent her to the Watchorn Tennis Centre.
Today, the 15-year-old only has thoughts about tennis – whether she playing in a national tournament, debuting at county level or winning two county awards for her performances.
Now, she is backing a scheme in Derbyshire to get children to try tennis for the first time.
Youngsters who take up our offer of a free session at one of three county tennis clubs are also in with a chance of being called back for more free sessions.
It is being run by Serving Up Tennis, the tennis coaching provider at Derbyshire Tennis Centre and is for children aged five to 14.
Katy, who attends Frederick Gent Community School, in South Normanton, said: "I remember when I first tried tennis for the first time and how important that was.
"I had this racket and this ball and my dad told me to hit it.
"After that, he said try serving it, and I didn't know what that meant.
"He explained it and I had a go. Straight away, he took me to the Watchorn Tennis Centre and I've not looked back since.
"I don't think I'd come across it at all before that day and now I can't imagine life without it."
After Watchorn, Katy trained at a number of venues in Derby, Chesterfield, Nottingham and Sheffield, before settling at the Derbyshire Tennis Centre.
Her first competitions were at under-10 level and, at the age of 11, she was asked to represent Derbyshire in the under-14 County Cup.
She has played national tournaments in Bourne-mouth and Solihull but it is during the past 12 months that she feels she has made her mark on the game.
Katy had double triumphs at both the Derbyshire County Closed Championships and Sheffield Junior Open, in the under-14 and under-16 tournaments.
Her performance at the Derbyshire festival, in August 2010, also earned her the Bramah Trophy for top junior performer, as she also won the under-15 doubles crown.
She also earned a trip to the All England Club last summer with victory at the Derbyshire Road to Wimbledon Finals and made her debut at women's County Cup level in November 2010.
She finished that year ranked number one in Derbyshire for both the under-16s and under-18s and number 31 in the UK for players born between 1994 and 1997.
In February, her successes were rewarded when she picked up the girls' junior player of the year and the Derek Wardle Memorial award for the most improved junior player at the Derbyshire Tennis Awards.
Katy said: "The first competitive match I played in was in the under-10s and I remember losing really easily.
"But it didn't put me off and I remember being determined to carry on. I've done some great things since then and, when I've been away from tennis for a few weeks, I can't wait to get back to it.
"Even if it's not something you're good at, you can still learn to play tennis and enjoy it. I knew nothing about it but now I want to be a professional player."