WANBOROUGH wheelchair tennis ace Louise Hunt is already eyeing up a place at Rio 2016 after being crowned national singles champion for the first time last weekend.

British number three Hunt enjoyed a twin triumph at the competition at Oxstalls Sports Park in Gloucester as she also claimed a sixth national doubles crown alongside Laura Coteman.

But rather than resting up after the culmination of a successful season, 23-year-old Hunt is already putting plans in place for 2015 with the primary focus of securing a place at the next Paralympic Games.

“Qualifying for Rio is the main aim for next year because that begins in the summer,” said Hunt, who also competed at London 2012.

“September 2016 is a long way off in one sense, but actually it isn’t that far away at all if that’s what all your focus is on.

“I’ve ended the year at my highest rankings. I’m at 17 in the singles and 11 in the doubles, and if qualifying stopped now I think I would be at the Games.

“But as much as I’m really happy I’ve done that, that isn’t quite good enough for me. I want to be higher and I want to be beating the top ten players. I’ve beaten them a few times already but it’s about doing it regularly.

“Getting myself into the top ten is a minimum and I’d love to be there for Rio but there’s a Paralympics after that as well which I’d love to be even higher for.

“I don’t want to take too much time off now because tennis is such a technical sport that if you have a break it can mean your game starts to slip.

“The way I look at it is, if someone has got a day off but I’m in there training that’s hopefully where it’s going to make the difference for me.”

Hunt was in almost untouchable form at the nationals, claiming a maiden singles crown with a peerless 6-0,6-0 success over Val Fisher.

She and partner Coteman then followed that up with an equally impressive 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Fisher and Debbie Brazier in the doubles final.

Hunt added: “I’m really pleased – I’ve finally got my name on that singles trophy.

“I’ve got a few doubles titles already and have been in so many national finals, so this singles one feels like it’s been a long time coming.

“I played really well and it was as nice way to end the year. People say I’m lucky to go all around the world and play but it’s actually really nice to come home and win a tournament in your own country. I loved it.”