A NINE-YEAR-OLD tennis player who was born with a congenital limb difference has won her first-ever tournament in Buckinghamshire.

Joanie Melady, who is from South Oxfordshire, has an arm deficiency as her left limb did not fully develop before birth.

However, she has stated that she is ‘very confident’ on the court after a prosthetic was made to help her serve the ball.

Created by the company, Koalaa, the tool been made in Joanie’s honour, as this aided her become victorious in her inaugural tournament at Halton Tennis Club earlier on in the month.

Joanie’s dad, Alan, said: “It’s been incredible.

“She’s been interested in tennis since she was about five.

“It was clear she had this natural ability, but obviously with the whole serve thing, and then when the guys at Koalaa sent this, it was just incredible.

“You watch her now and there’s no difference between her and any of the other players.

“Her confidence has just shot up.

“She’s playing a lot more and she’s always happy when she’s playing tennis.”

Joanie has been using a variety of Koalaa’s prosthetics tools for three years.

As well as providing her with a tool to help her surf, the team have also given Joanie a prosthetic to help her play the guitar, which is equipped with a pick at the end.

Joanie and her family started to build a relationship with the team at Koalaa and met with them several times.

She said: “I know I’m able to do it.

“It helps me to serve by tossing up the ball, it’s improved my game.

“Before, I wasn’t that strong with my hits, and I wasn’t very confident.

“But now I’m very confident because I know I’m able to do it, I know I’m able to win and not do it on my second serve, and lose the second serve.”

On her doubles win, she added: “I was really nervous and scared because I’ve never played a tennis tournament before, and it was just after six nights of camping, so I was really tired,” Joanie said.

“I lost two and won two, but when I lost them I felt really upset, and I felt like I was going to give up, but I shouldn’t give up, because I shouldn’t give up something I love so much.”

The Joanie tool is now available for other tennis players and fans of the sport of all ages.