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Tennis superstar settles back into Academic life

Tennis superstar settles back into Academic life featured image

Etching her name into the US Open history books, Amherst pupil, Mika, is the first Briton in 15 years to win the US Open Girls’ title. 

Mika is part of the Loughborough University National Tennis Academy (LUNTA), a partnership with Loughborough University and the Lawn Tennis Association which provides selected academy members with world-class coaching, science, medicine, and welfare expertise from Loughborough University National Academy staff.   

Academy members also receive an excellent education, boarding and pastoral provision at Loughborough Amherst School, with dedicated Academic tutors who ensure academy athletes, like Mika, can balance their studies alongside their tennis training and competitions. 

We caught up with Mika to find out all about this incredible experience. 

 

How does it feel to be back at Amherst? 

Yeah, it’s really nice. It definitely makes it a little bit more normal for me and it’s back to a routine which I like. 

 

What are your favourite subjects at School? 

My favourite subjects are History, English and Geography. 

 

Are you studying for your GCSEs now? 

Yeah, I’m doing my GCSEs this year, so this is my second year of GCSEs, and I think I’ve got my exams in May. 

 

Could you tell me a little bit about the contrast between training with LUNTA and focusing on your academic studies? 

Well, I think, with the help of the team at the Loughborough National Academy. They really help me to balance my schedule and make sure that I’m getting enough of everything. Obviously, this year is an important School year so, at times, School definitely gets priority, but I’ve got a good balance. 

 

I just wanted to ask you a bit about winning the US Open – how did that feel? 

I mean it was quite surreal, obviously I didn’t expect it. I don’t really think it was expected by anyone as coming in unseeded you don’t really predict winning the tournament, but it was an amazing feeling and one which I hope to build on. 

 

Could you walk me through the final round? 

A final is definitely a little bit more intense; you know, there’s more reward after a final but I just try to keep it the same with the same routines, same mindset. You’ve got to treat it as any other match, and I think I did that well. After I won, I was so pleased. 

 

How have you found the response from Amherst, and how have they supported you returning to School? 

I think it kind of brings back that fact of normalcy, which I really like. Just going back to normal and going back to how things were, going to School, training with everyone I know and just seeing familiar faces is always quite nice. 

 

How has it been seeing your school friends again? 

It’s been nice, I got some really nice messages from some of the girls at School. 

 

Are you looking towards the future now, or thinking about the step after GCSEs? 

I think it’s just GCSEs this year, and then hopefully I’ll do my A Levels as well. It’s a bit far for me to tell still so I think I’ll just take it year at time, month at a time. When it comes to a time where I have to decide, I’ll decide but I think just getting my qualifications now is the most important thing.  

 

Is there anything you’d like to say to the generation of pupils moving up through the School behind you, or fellow inspiring athletes? 

Probably just enjoy it. It’s really fun and you can get a lot out of it if you have fun.