Angelica Bernal, also known as the wheelchair tennis player, has recently shared her vision for the sport's growth in her homeland, Colombia, after operating her tennis school in the country for small kids and teenagers who have disabilities.

Bernal, who is ranked 10th in the world, finds encouragement in the development of the sport and her school, which has been operational for a decade.

The 25-year-old star player started operating the school with coaches and also with her father, who was giving her lessons. However, to date, because of professionalism, they hired a teacher. This, according to reports, is presently provided by "the District Institute of Recreation and Sport of Bogota."

In an online news site, Bernal said, after she won a few tournaments, "we came up with the idea for me, my coaches and parents," to provide more children with disabilities, with the chance "to play wheelchair tennis."

Her Vision

Since no women or children were playing before, Bernal said, the main idea of putting up the school was to encourage, not to mention strengthening the sport. Presently, the wheelchair tennis player gets involved with her tennis school every time she returns home.

Bernal has provided rackets and wheelchairs for the players. Primarily, some of the students enrolled at her school have already represented the junior team of Colombia, as well as the city of Bogota during the Para National Games.

When she retires, Bernal has the intention of continuing to assist with wheelchair tennis's development in her home. She said she wants to work in some Colombian or international organization for Paralympic sport, as well as "for the sport of my country."

Admittedly, the wheelchair tennis school owner shared, tennis is what's making her happy. She added, it is her job, but her hobby, as well, and it's what she enjoys doing most. She's been able to travel and help more people, because of tennis, said Bernal.

Working that Vision to Materialize

Bernal envisions wheelchair tennis to be growing in Colombia. She excitedly shares that once again, children will feel the same way as she does. 

In 2019, the Colombian wheelchair tennis player was selected as America's "Athlete of the Month" for October after she garnered 53 percent of the vote from the public. In addition, she also won the women's singles title during the Semana Guga Kuerten in Brazil after beating the world's former NO. 5 of Great Britain, Lucy Shuker, in the final.

Moreover, Bernal wants to follow Sharapova, too, on the way to success and turn to be the best on earth. She said, since she started playing the sport, it has been her dream to be the best or No. 1 in the world.

To achieve what she has always wanted, the player admitted she still needs to prepare and compete against the world's best. In addition to this, Bernal warns that this sport is among the complete games because "you have to be physically very good to endure a three-hour match."

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