Lynsey Davison from Nunthorpe, is the latest in a line of Durham and Cleveland players to make the world rankings.

The 22-year-old Tennis World Middlesbrough player has entered the lists at position 1,163 which has given her a 38th place on the British order of merit.

After graduating from Newcastle University in summer 2001, she decided to test herself on the tournament circuit and has performed capably in the Hastings Direct Tour events since last autumn.

She has also been a competitor in some challenger standard competitions, the next higher level in the professional game which is really where the ranking points are obtained.

Her first step was the 25,000 dollars Nottingham event last year with one win in the qualifying rounds. That was followed by progress into the main draw in the 10,000 dollars Hull tournament in January and a place in the last 16.

A win over a Russian ranked player was noted by selectors who rewarded the Teessider with a wild card entry into the 25,000 dollars Tipton event, so together useful victories and placements in three high standard tournaments furnished Miss Davison with that important foot on the ranking ladder.

She said: "I am delighted to have made a first breakthrough. But it's been hard and financially draining.

"I am hoping to get into more 10,000 dollars tournaments this year in order to keep picking up ranking points."

The Teessider aims to improve her ranking into the 500s. But there is no doubt the four years studying have interrupted progress.

She has been playing catch up to many contemporaries who maintained full time tennis. Nevertheless, she did have time to be runner-up twice in the British universities championships and captained Newcastle while there.

At the moment competing is running alongside training at Tennis World with coaches Nigel Garton and Brent Parker and hitting partner Mark Franklin and taking coaching qualifications herself. There are British Tour events in Bristol and Bolton coming up and some challengers in April.

Miss Davison's consistent spell of play started way back in December when Carly Homewood (Sussex) then at 724 in the world, was one victim in Hull. The following month some victims were Natalie Neri (Middlesex) 792 and Anna White (Dorset) 1,055.

The winning habit, crucial to continued progress, has been coming the last four months.

The next step is to make more semi-finals. Miss Davison is fully aware of the dedication required and has set herself serious but realistic targets for the year.

Confidence has been boosted by capturing her first world ranking points and it won't be for the lack of trying if Lynsey is not to gather anymore.