MEET St Helens’ answer to Angelique Kerber, as 14-year-old Lucy Cunliffe is heading to Wimbledon next month after beating her fellow Lancashire competitors in the biggest junior tournament in British tennis.

Lucy Cunliffe from Haydock, will be joining other county champions from August 12, for the Road to Wimbledon tournament that offers players under 14 the opportunity to progress through to compete on the world famous grass courts.

Her proud dad -of-one Steven Cunliffe, 42, who runs The Chiropody Clinic, said: “We are really really proud of Lucy, she went to Wimbledon last year. There were 48 competitors, and she won three matches to get into the last 24, before she lost in the main draw.

“But now she is older and wiser and very driven, so hopefully this year she will go even further.

“She did really well, she beat all the other girls in the county and is now Lancashire County Champion, so she will face off with other county champions from elsewhere in the UK.

“She’s been playing since she was four, and hopes to get a scholarship in the future either in the US or in a UK school, but for now she needs to get through high school first but doing something related to sport is definitely in her future.

“She’s been following Wimbledon closely and her biggest idols are Johanna Konta and Angelique Kerber, so it is great for her to play where they have.

“She’s done remarkably well.”

Lucy’s won her county title on Saturday, July 14.

For more on the Road to Wimbledon, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association, including dates, and how to take part, visit lta.org.uk/competitions/junior/road-to-wimbledon.