It won't be a white Christmas for Aberdeen's Joanna Henderson.

The 15 year old jets off to Mexico on Christmas Eve for a year-ending high altitude tournament, followed straight after by another event in Costa Rica - an unseasonal end to a good 2009 in which, despite one setback, she has made significant progress.

“I had an ankle injury for two months in the autumn and couldn’t play in a few tournaments,” said the Grampian Institute of Sport supported athlete.  “I was meant to go to Asia for four weeks then the injury happened, which was a disappointment. 

“So I missed ranking targets but I have been working extremely hard to get back.  I’ve improved my ITF ranking this year, from 800 at the beginning of the year to 320.” 

Emphasising the confidence they place in her, the Lawn Tennis Association last week confirmed Joanna’s place in its 2010 Team AEGON, a group of performance players who receive their highest level of support.

The Team AEGON programme provides players with full training support at the National Tennis Centre, Roehampton or at a performance venue of their choice, either nationally or internationally. It also includes substantial travel assistance to allow them to compete on the international scene.

“I’ve been on the AEGON programme for the last 12 months and I am really pleased they have renewed,” said Joanna.

“It’s brilliant to have the funding which pays for trips, travel and accommodation.  It allows you the flexibility to train where you want to and I’ve been able to train at the national centre for the past two years.”

So as another year rolls to a close what does 2010 hold for Joanna, her game and her hopes?

“This year I’ve been a year young in ITF event and it’s been big progress,” she said.  “Hopefully next year I will move up again to the top 150 or 100.

“The technical things of my game are mainly done.  I’ve done a lot of work on my serve especially because I had an abbreviated action.  It has taken a lot of time but it was definitely something that I needed to work on, improving to my advantage being tall (5’11”). 

“That’s what my game is based around, that aggressive style of play.”