South Canterbury 17-year-old tennis player Emily Fanning has won her first professional title.

Fanning and partner Anett Kontaveit from Estonia made the breakthrough win in the US$10,000 women's ITF doubles in Mexico.

The pair knocked out the second seeds in the quarterfinals, dropping only two games. In the final, Fanning and Kontaveit were impressive, beating the top-seeded American pair Erin Clark and Elizabeth Ferris 6-0, 6-3.

John Fanning said his daughter was delighted with her first title.

"She has been working hard, so it is great."

Fanning now heads to Canada for a junior tournament before travelling to the United States Junior Open at Flushing Meadows, New York. She will then compete in a senior women's event in Columbia.

The talented tennis player from Kerrytown is now based in Boca Raton, Florida, which is a training ground for the world's top young players.

Fanning senior said his daughter gets to hit with other players from all around the world at the Chris Evert Tennis Academy and at the United States Tennis Academy.

She has hit a number of times with New Zealand No 1 Marina Erakovic, who also spends time in Florida, he said.

"Emily is playing both junior and pro tournaments from her base in Florida."

Last month Fanning had a combined single and doubles junior ranking of 38th in the world. Fanning travels with her United States coach Werner Venter but also still has Vince Dattoli in Melbourne as well.

Fanning senior said she was very fortunate that both coaches worked in so well together.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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