Young tennis star sees dreams shattered

Edinburgh starlet Emma Devine – widely considered to be one of Britain's brightest tennis prospects – is almost certain to be withdrawn from her exclusive Belgian training camp after her father learned he is to be made redundant from his job.

Kenneth and Kathy Devine had been paying the 35,000 annual bill for her to attend the prestigious Justine Henin academy, where the 14-year-old was undergoing intensive training with the former world number one's coach, Carlos Rodriguez. The move to withdraw her for financial reasons would be a severe blow to the teenager's hopes of achieving major tennis success.

The setback comes as she prepares for the Wimbledon stage, where she is due to appear in a showcase display with former British ace Tim Henman.

Mr Devine said today the news had "devastated" the family.

"It is tragic to think that a bright prospect like her might not be able to reach her full potential because there just isn't the money to fund it," he said. "But there's nothing we can do. We tried last year to raise sponsorship for her by contacting major companies and financial institutions in Edinburgh to ask for help – but there was nothing. They seem to prefer sponsoring corporate events.

"Emma has worked hard for her sport for a very long time. Now it looks like that hard work has been for nothing."

He added: "It was difficult for us to fund her last year, but we did it, having been told by Judy Murray, Andy's mother, that Emma has huge potential. But we can't financially carry on."

Mr Devine is an accountant at Telford College. He's been told he will be redundant from the middle of next month. "I'm 52 years old, so it's not going to be terribly easy for me to suddenly find another job. So it's going to be virtually impossible for Emma to carry on," he said.

Emma's skills were honed at Craiglockhart, but it quickly became clear that her talent required specialist coaching.

She was supported in her move to the Belgian academy – where she is the only British pupil – by Ms Murray, who has advised and guided the Devine family.

Henman also praised Emma last year after watching her win the HSBC Road to Wimbledon under-14s tournament.

All England Club head coach Dan Bloxham said at the time: "Emma is a real powerhouse from the baseline like Venus or Serena Williams," he said.

Emma left St Thomas of Aquins school last summer and has lived in Belgium since joining the Academy in September, travelling to tournaments in Turkey, Finland, Denmark and Ukraine.

But it's now likely Emma will return home in September, her dreams of tennis glory on hold.