A TALENTED tennis player could be sharing the court with some of the sport’s biggest names later this year.

Eden Richardson, 14, of Stanney Oaks, has reached the final stage of the selection process to be a ball girl for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 arena in London in November.

The teenager – a regular tournament winner on the junior circuit – took part in the Barclays Ball Kids regional selection trials held in Manchester.

Showing impressive athleticism, agility, endurance, co-ordination, ball skills, balance and speed, Eden was selected as one of the best children in the area.

She now goes forward to a national selection trial next month, when a final squad of 30 will be picked.

Eden, who attends Whitby High School, said: “I would absolutley love to be a Barclays Ball Kid so I can be on the same court as my heroes.

“If I did make it through to the final 30 then I would be over the moon. It would be just amazing. Hopefully Rafael Nadal will be there this year!”

The world’s top eight players will attend the ATP World Tour Finals later this year.

As well as showing plenty of promise as a budding ball girl, Eden has enjoyed a successful winter season.

She finished runner-up at the 16&U Aegon Winter National Tour Finals at the National Tennis Centre in London.

Eden was beaten by Emily Arbuthnott from Harpen- den, who also won the 18&U competition, in a gruelling three-hour, 48-minute final that ended 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.

The invitation-only tournament is the pinnacle of the winter British tennis season.

Eden, who trains at the Wirral Tennis Centre, was one of only 16 players to be invited, having earned her place by accumulating enough ranking points from LTA tournaments throughout the winter.