KEMPSHOTT’S young tennis star, Aisling McGrane, has broken into the top 25 of the national under-12 rankings after reaching the semi-finals of a national under-12 tournament for the first time at Bath University.

The unseeded 12-year-old faced the eighth seed, Amy Totheringham, in her opening match and gained revenge for a defeat a few weeks earlier.

The match turned out to be the longest of the round and McGrane won a 10-7 third set tie breaker.

This set up a game against Amelia Bissett, ranked 12 places ahead of the Kempshott player, and once again it was a real battle, with McGrane winning another final set tie break 10-7.

In her last-eight encounter, McGrane faced number four seed Amber Woffindin and won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

This set-up a semi-final clash with Great Britain team member Jana Higazy.

Higazy showed her experience and won the match in straight sets before going on to win the final.

McGrane started playing tennis when she was four and spent the first few years playing at Manydown Tennis Club.

She moved to Totally Tennis in Basingstoke before switching to the David Lloyd Club in Southampton.

The Bishop Challoner pupil is a member of the Winchester Racquets and Fitness Club, where she works with her coach three days a week, and is ranked number one in the south east region.