Kanza ismail Hameed is just not a budding tennis player from Maldives. She is also an aspiring writer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 13-year is seeded eighth in the girl\u2019s singles competition at the ongoing ATF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex. She was quarter-finalist here last week and made it into the quarter-finals again this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier today, the 13-year-old she overcame an early resistance from Pakistani Eesha Rabbi before winning 7-5, 6-0 to make the quarter-finals once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love reading and also writing poetry,\u201d said Kanza, whose favourite genre is fantasy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kanza will be up against Week 1 champion Maristella Torrecampo in a difficult quarter-final tie tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may be an arduous task for her not only tomorrow but in the future as she hopes to stamp her mark in tennis she is ready for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI took up the game initially just to enjoy myself, but began to play more seriously when I was 11,\u201d said Kanza, who was introduced to the game by her grandfather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lass also took the decision to relocate out of Maldives in pursuit of improving her tennis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was based in Thailand for almost two years in pursuit of improving her game. She now pursues high-performance tennis alongside a world-class British education in Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like my stay in Malaysia. The tennis academy there is excellent,\u201d said Kanza, who is attached with the Mouratoglou Tennis Programme at Epsom College in Bandar Enstek, near the Seremban city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being the only child, also sees Kanza\u2019s dreams supported fully by her parents Ali Shan and Raidha Shafeeq. Her parents have also been travelling with her for tournaments, including for the past two weeks in Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The relocation meant that she would also miss her friends back home, but she has also forged close friendship with her tennis peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She has been a member of the Maldives national junior U-12 and U-14 teams. She was the runners up in the U-12 singles and doubles winner with Clara Serena Asif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kanza, who also enjoys swimming and playing basketball, hopes to turn pro and play in the WTA circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHopefully I can also improve quickly and play collegiate tennis before turning pro,\u201d added the bubbly teenager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n