Forget that she lost the girls singles final at the ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mongolia\u2019s Aissata Enkhzaya Adama is already envisioning herself hoisting a Grand Slam trophy in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see myself playing in the Grand Slam and even lifting the title,\u201d said Aissata, who was beaten by Filipina Maristella Torrecampo in Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lanky 13-year-old is determined to break the mould in a country where tennis is very much a niche sports compared to the more popular wrestling, basketball and football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the Grand Slam hopes are in in the distant future, Aissata is already looking to another final meeting against Martistella on Week Two of the tournament starting on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think we will play in the final again. This time I will be better prepared, said the lass, who hails from Ulaanbaatar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had so much difficulty with her lobs as I do not play or train indoors for most of the time back home,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ulaanbaatar is recognized as the world’s coldest capital city, featuring a harsh continental climate with long, dry, and bitterly cold winters, and short, mild-to-warm summers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promising youngster get to play outdoors only for one month each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second place finish here was an improvement over her debut in Sri Lanka last year, where she finished 5th<\/sup> and 6th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was quite anxious in the final but hope to be better next week. I am also still eligible to play next year,\u201d beamed Aissata, whose favourite player is newly crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aissata is one of the most promising junior players to emerge from Mongolia. She has won every age-group national titles since winning the Under-8. She now holds five national age group titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n