Call-up to NZ team

New Zealand's selectors have made Natalie Paterson's dreams come true by naming her in the under-18 girls team to play in the world junior championships.

They are to be held in Bratislava, Slovakia, from December 4 to 11.

The other players heading to Slovakia are all from Auckland – Angie Guo, Jennifer Tseng and Dawn Ee.

Paterson, a 17-year-old Freyberg High School student, was first selected for New Zealand last year for the world junior circuit event on the Gold Coast, Australia.

In October, she again represented New Zealand in the Australian junior championships in Tasmania, and in April this year again played in the world junior circuit event, held in Auckland, and this time the team finished second.

Paterson was also part of the New Zealand under-18 team at the Oceania championships, where her team's second placing qualified them for the world juniors.

Her recent form has been the best of her career. At the national junior teams championships last month, she had wins over all the girls who were up for New Zealand team selection.

In the singles, she had a great start, beating second seed Julia Wu in the group stage. Unfortunately, she lost 3-2 in the quarterfinals in a close game with Auckland chopper Hwei Ching Lim.

Paterson and partner Yuka Muto from Nelson were runners-up in the under-18 girls doubles to the top seeds.

At the recent Wellington Open, Paterson was runner-up in the open singles, losing 4-3 in a close struggle with experienced Wellington senior player Catherine Zhou.

Before the world event Paterson's schedule includes the Australian junior championships in September, the NZ Open, as well as the Manawatu Open and numerous club events.

- © Fairfax NZ News