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Tennis Spy takes a look at 19-year-old Ayumi Morita, Japan's top ranked female player.

Full name: Ayumi Morita

Nationality: Japanese (born and lives in Ota City)

Age: 19 (DOB March 11, 1990)

Career Highlights: Reached two WTA Tour semi-finals, in Strasbourg and Guangzhou, and forced to retire injured in the former. Reached quarter-finals in Auckland, where she also sustained an injury. Winner of three ITF tournaments, including two in consecutive weeks in Tokyo and Kolkata in October/November 2008. Member of 2008 Japan Olympic team and Japan Fed Cup team since 2007.

General: Currently Japan's number one ranked player at world number 73, quickly followed by Ai Sugiyama, who retires after this week, and the 39-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm, who is enjoying a career resurgence. Turned pro 2005 aged just 14, and forced to labour on the ITF circuit for four years before breaking into the top 100 this year and achieving a full compliment of Grand Slam appearances. Yet to make breakthrough with a Tour victory but appearances in latter stages of several events suggests steady progress.

Strengths: Powerful ground strokes and speed. Morita hits the ball very flat off both sides which takes time away from opponents and, combined with raw power gained from two-handed backhand and forehand, earns her early control of rallies. The 19-year-old also very quick around court, with excellent footwork.

Weaknesses: Possesses fairly lacklustre serve. At just 5'4", struggles to produce effective serve and has to work extra hard off baseline to win games. A few aces here and there as well as some serve-and-volley points can relieve pressure on a player in tight situations, but not something Morita can rely on.

Prospects: Still young and definitely moving in right direction. A former junior world number three, Morita certainly has ability to continue move up the rankings but needs to press on and start getting results in big matches. Could do with solid run at Grand Slam to gain confidence and could do worse than to look to 5'5" idol Justine Henin for some tips on how to combat lack of height.

Personal: Started playing aged seven with family. Mother Hiromi a former volleyball player, father Tomohiro technician for electrical company. Younger brother Kazuhiro,two years her junior. Coached by Junichi Maruyama. Trains at Sugiyama's tennis academy and has been known to work with Sugiyama's mother Fusako.

Cites Suyigama as one of her tennis idols, for her hard-working style of play, as well as the returning Henin, for her attitude both on and off the court

Morita's favourite shot is the forehand and she particularly enjoys playing on grass and hard courts, saying her most memorable experience so far in her career is qualifying for Wimbledon in 2007.

Away from the court, the easy-going Morita enjoys golf, going to see action movies and rock music. Superstitiously always wears the same shirt, albeit washed, after a victory

Pippa Davis / Eurosport