Jordanne Whiley Excited For 2012

The Olympic and the Paralympic Games are now just a year away and tennis player Jordanne Whiley is already excited about competing in front of a home crowd.

She made her debut at Wimbledon earlier this summer, which was the first time that she had played on grass, and is currently in fine form.

I caught up with her for a chat about her form so far this year and the excitement of 2012.

- You made your Wimbledon debut just a couple of weeks ago so how did you find playing of the hallow turf of SW19 for the first time?

It was amazing, hard work, but amazing. The crowd gave me and Lucy great support.

- I was reading that grass is a surface that you had never played on until just before the tournament so how did you find your time on the green stuff?

At first it was really tough, the bounce was completely different from any surface id played on before and the chair was moving in directions that I didn’t want it to go but after a couple of days I got use to it.

- You were the world no 1 junior so how have you found the transition onto the senior tour?

It was fine, I don’t feel out of place at all in the women’s game, I feel I totally deserve to be there and I’m competing, and even beating, some of the top women in the world.

- How would you assess your form at the moment - and what tournaments lie ahead for you up to the end of the year?

Touch wood, I’m injury free and totally fit! I have a lot of tournaments this year, I will be competing in USA and Canada later on this year.

- The Olympic Games are now just twelve months away so how excited are you at the prospect of a home games?

I couldn’t be more excited! I’m really curious to see how it will differ from Beijing and I’m also excited because I will be competing there and battling for a medal in my home country with all my friends and family watching, and also thousands of people who I don’t know but are still supporting me all the way.

- How much is 2012 in your mind as you play and train or are you trying not to look that far ahead yet?

It’s what I’m training for every day, everything I do from now on is for London 2012.

- You did go to Beijing back in 2008 - you were on 16 years old so how was your experience out there?

I was so nervous, but also amazed by absolutely everything, even the small things like plants in the Olympic village!

Everything was incredible and the people were so friendly, I’m so glad I had there chance to go there and experience something as big as that.

- So what made you take up tennis in the first place?

My dad, he saw me pick up a racket and a ball when he was competing in Israel in 1995, as soon as we came home he took me to the local tennis centre and starting hitting with me.

- Your father is also a Paralympian so how great an inspiration has he been for you?

He’s a huge inspiration, don’t know what I’d do without him. I have this great life with such great people all because of him, he’s the most important person in my life.

- For anyone who is wondering if they can have a career in sport with a disability what tips or advice would you give?

Do whatever that makes you happy, even if people laugh or don’t believe in you.

It really doesn’t matter what your disability is, there’s a sport for everyone out there!

-You are also a Cadbury athlete ambassador so can you tell me a little bit about that?

Cadbury are the Official Treat Provider’s to the Olympic and Paralympic games and to celebrate they created Spots v Stripes, a campaign to get the nation playing more games ahead of London 2012, I’m on the spots team!

Plus anybody who’s willing to give me free Cadbury creme eggs can count on me, and Cadbury chocolate is the best in the world!

- Finally what's next for you?

I’m currently on a European tour, so I have 2 more weeks left of that then I will be off to compete in the USA tour in august.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

Jordanne Whiley is the latest Athlete Ambassador supporting the Cadbury Spots v Stripes campaign in the run up to London 2012. To find out how you can get involved please visit spotsvstripes.com