Nairobi — Sonia Mideva, a member of the Kenya youth team at the just concluded International Tennis Federation East Africa circuit has left for Montgomery University, Washington DC in the United States of America on a two year tennis scholarship.

For a girl whose life has been shuttling between the Sadili Academy, Parklands Sports Club courts, school and home, the new challenge ushers in a new dawn.

Mideva, 16 started playing tennis aged just four under coach Elizabeth Odera. Then a pupil at Malezi school, Mideva balanced her academic and extra curricular activities until her O-level examinations when this opportunity came knocking on her door.

She said she intended to accomplish her childhood dreams of becoming a professional player.

"Depending on my level of the game, the university will add me another two years. However, I must fight hard to be among the school's best six to get the additional scholarship," she said.

Mideva who has since taken up training sessions with former Kenya Davis Cup player Nobert Oduor as her coach, intends to transfer to Oduor's base at Bearen Brook Tennis Club in Dunbary, Connecticut.

"I face a tough task to prove my ability. Currently under the university rankings, I am seeded nine and I have to be in the top six for me to get the full scholarship. But I am sure with time I will be able to move within the top six and earn the full support from the school," she said.

Martina Hingis, 27, is Mideva's role model. She admires the way she plays and hopes to one day l be able to attain the same level of success even though she is late agewise.

"I love her game, the way she plays, the way she carries herself on the court, how she inspires and pysches herself. Hingis rarely gives up even when she is behind," she said.

Mideva won the under-16 Kenya Open title in 2005 beating Joie Keter in the final. She missed most the 2006 season because of school work .

She is ranked 853rd by the ITF

"Every game I play serves as a great inspiration to me, it propels me to do better in the next assignment. But when I lose without putting in my best effort it really destroys my self belief."

Her new venture is expected to open new doors for her hopefully open the doors for many other Kenyan players who wish to improve their game.

She has been to the ITF centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was in 2003.

It is at this level that Mideva credits as her turning point in her perception and attitude of the game.

Mideva was born on April 2, 1990 and was enrolled at Malezi school where she pursued her primary education, then she moved to Nairobi Jaffery for her O-Levels.

She has had three main coaches in her playing career- Elizabeth Odera, Martin Nzuwe and Nobert Oduor.

Oduor is also currently back home but has made plans to link up with the young player once he returns to the US for coaching responsibilities.