By Jack Burford
At just 13 years old, Daniella Britton is making a name for herself in British tennis. Ranked number two in the Under-14 category in Great Britain, she also holds an impressive world ranking of 564 in the Under-18s – an achievement especially remarkable for her age.
Britton’s tennis journey began at age four when her father Roger Britton, a competitive player himself, introduced her to the sport.
She started with mini tennis classes at David Lloyd Poole, where she practised alongside her father and his friends.
Recognizing her natural talent, Britton joined the West Hants Club at seven, where she trained with older players, accelerating her development.
James White, Director of Tennis at West Hants, remembers her early promise.
White said: “She’s always been very talented and has worked hard,this year, she really kicked on, winning two ITF tournaments, and representing Great Britain. I’m excited to see how far she can go.”
Britton is held in high regard by her club teammates: Sophie Morris, regional performance development centre player at West Hants, described her own victory against Britton at the age of eight as her “biggest achievement so far”.
One of Britton’s biggest achievements was competing at Wimbledon in an Under-14s event, where she won five out of six matches. Her only loss came to the eventual champion, Jana Kovackova.
Reflecting on the experience, Britton said: “Playing in front of a home crowd was amazing, the support was overwhelming, and it felt great to be asked for photos and autographs by younger fans.”
Despite her tennis success, Britton balances her training with school, taking ten subjects.
Looking ahead, Britton remains focused and determined.
She said: “This is only the beginning. I want to be back at Wimbledon and the Grand Slams,” she said. “Training next to Novak Djokovic at Aorangi Park has given me extra motivation, and I want more of that.
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