Tennis ace Candy in world top 10

The Rye Lawn Tennis Club coach, 55, has risen 16 places to number eight on the International Tennis Federation's women's over-55 list for May and is the British no.1.

Candy's big jump has come about as a result of her excellent performances at the ITF Seniors World Team Championships and 30th ITF Seniors World Individual Championships in Mexico recently.

She came through a trio of three-set matches to finish runner-up in the latter event and earn 220 points on top of the 130 points won for being part of the Great Britain team which was third in the former competition.

What makes Candy's achievement all the more impressive is that she has only played in three counting events which is less than any other player in the top dozen.

To place it into context, top ranked Tina Karwosky (USA) has played in eight events, while Dagmar Sperneder (Austria), who is joint fifth, has played in 17.

St Leonards-based Candy, who also coaches at Hawkhurst Lawn Tennis Club, will take part in the British Veterans Grass Court Championships in August and the County Championships (over-35s) at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, during July.

ITF Women's over-55s rankings - top 10 (events played-points): 1 Tina Karwasky (USA) 8-840, 2 Carolyn Nichols (USA) 8-675, 3 Nora Blom (Ned) 8-615, 4 Lyn Mortimer (Aus) 6-550, 5= Dagmar Sperneder (Aut) 17-500, 5= Beatrice Chrystman (Bra) 9-500, 7 Sherri Bronson (USA) 6-465, 8 Frances Candy (Gbr) 3-430, 9 Radomila Martinicova (Cze) 9-430, 10 Encarnacion Gomis-Ruiz (Esp) 17-420.