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" I attribute much of my success in tennis to family support, especially my mum who ever since I started travelling has not missed a single one of my matches. I sometimes think of her as my better half" she tells Kenyanstar." Not only does she worry about the big stuff like my academic peformance, but even the little stuff like when I was out from tennis for six months last year, she was with me every step of the way till I was fully recovered and ready to play again."
Nikita appreciates that despite tennis being an expensive sport, her family has not been reluctant in their support, she believes more because she gives back good results for the good effort they put in both financially and otherwise. She encourages players who cannot quite afford to play to take up the various sponsorship opportunities offered by the ITF and KLTA to better their chances at being recognised players.
She points out that some of the positive additions that have assisted with her exposure is the fact that KLTA has started bringing in three tournaments in Kenya. "Before they didn't happen in Kenya but this makes it comfortable to play tournaments, seeing that I have home ground advantage," she says, in reference to the ongoing ITF juniors tournaments, which happen for the next three weeks.
The first time she took part ina competitive tournamnet was at the age of 10, under ITF CATS in Kenya. She then took part in the annual ITF Zonals. One has to be ranked among the top 5 in their country to take part in these tournamnets. At the age of 12, she got the opportunity to represent East Africa in Botswana. Nikita became first in East Africa in U14 then U16.
Currently, she is ranked 1st in East Africa, 16th in Africa and 369 in the world ITF girls junior rankings. At Hillcrest Secondary, we don't have a proper coach but thanks to Ms Dorcie Agunda who tries to encourage students, hence Hillcrest always wins the inter school league. Besides tennis, Nikita also plays hockey for her school.
Currently In the just ended ITF 18 & Under Tournament held at the Nairobi Club, Nikita has flown the country's flag high, winning all her matches to the finals level in both singles and doubles.
She now looks forward to the first and second legs of the ITF circuit tournaments.
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