SELBY youngster Leona Clarkson is surging up the tennis rankings after winning the Lawn Tennis Association’s Under-14s Birchwood Junior Open.

The 12-year-old Goole Tennis Centre player is ranked fourth in the Yorkshire U14s standings and is closing in on third place.

In the final, Clarkson beat Great Britain international and Lancashire favourite Holly Staff, who is ranked as the third best U12s player in the country.

Following her 4-6 6-3 [1-0] (8) victory in the final, Clarkson said: “I want to be the best player that I can possibly be.

“I am trying to improve all aspects of my game but, in particular, I am trying to improve and maintain a positive and smart mental approach in matches.”

Clarkson entered the Birchwood event at the round of 16 stage and blazed past Jessica Doerr 6-1 6-0, which she followed with a 6-0 6-0 shut-out of Ruby May Broadhurst in the quarter-finals.

She had to battle for a 7-5 2-6 [1-0] (6) win over Madeline Frediani in the last-four.

Having first picked up a racquet at the age of six, Clarkson trains for nearly 20 hours a week at Goole Tennis Centre, as well as accessing the High Performance Centre at Nuffield alongside her studies at Ackworth School in Pontefract.

In the wake of the Birchwood Junior Open title win, Clarkson reached the quarter-finals of the Batley Grade 3 Junior Open.

The youngster said: “My parents have been very supportive driving me up and down the country.

“My coach Steve Turnbull has given me loads of support and opportunities. He is very driven and always works hard to help me improve. He is the best.”