NEWPORT'S teenage tennis star Olivia Scarfi is set for a breakthrough year in 2008, writes Mark Pickering.

Scarfi, 19, has wasted no time in underlining her ambitions for the coming year by reaching a tournament final of the British tour last weekend.

Despite a spirited fightback the emerging Welsh player was beaten 6-0, 7-6, in Billesley, Birmingham.

The highly-regarded youn-gster turned pro in the summer of 2006 after completing her A-Levels at Bassaleg School.

Scarfi ended 2007 at a career-high world ranking, 577, and progressed in the doubles rankings to 519.

The Welsh starlet, known for her big serve and ground strokes, has relocated to Wrexham to train at the Welsh High Performance Centre.

She has already become a fixture in the international senior set-up and played a pivotal role in Wales winning the Four Nations Championship last year, winning all her matches in the three-day tournament.

The teenager travelled with fellow Welsh prospects Sian Bayliss and Matt James to Australia in September to work with world-renowned trainer Peter McGraw who previously coached Maria Sharapova.

The six-week stay in Queensland provided Scarfi with invaluable tuition from one of the most respected figures in the game.

"Olivia will be staying in Europe this year and concentrating on the hard court," said mum Joy.

"She's hoping to break into the top 400 this year and has been working hard."

Reaching the top 400 would be a huge feat for the youngster and such progress could pave the way for a dream appearance at Wimbledon in the not too distant future.