PARALYMPICS LONDON 2012: Wheelchair tennis hopeful Whiley excited ahead of second Games appearance

By Paul Smith, Sportsbeat, London 2012

COMPARING the anticipation of competing at London 2012 to the excitement a child feels in the build-up to Christmas Day, Jordanne Whiley admits she is itching to begin her quest for glory at the Paralympic Games.

Since taking part as a wildcard entry in Beijing four years ago, the wheelchair tennis ace has been able to think of little else but achieving peak form in time for her home Games.

And with the opening ceremony now out of the way, the 20-year-old knows it is time for the talking to stop and the action to begin as she bids to take home two Paralympic medals.

Whiley, who has suffered from brittle bones since birth, believes she has what it takes to make the podium in both the singles event, and also alongside Lucy Shuker in the doubles.

Should she achieve her target, she will follow her father Keith in winning a Paralympic medal, after he won bronze in the 100m in 1984.

"I'm so excited I feel like a little kid at Christmas, I can't wait," said Whiley.

"Ever since it was announced that the Games would be in London I have wanted to be there because this is when I should be at my peak so I just want it to start now.

"I only just scraped into Beijing with a wildcard and I'm so glad I did because it has given me so much experience.

"It went pretty terribly, but I wasn't going out there with a mindset of winning a medal it was just to do my best, gain experience and lap up the atmosphere. 

"I'm not ruling the singles event out because I have a good chance of getting a medal, but I've got to play well and have a decent draw which is out of my control. 

"In the doubles we are ranked third and the only two pairings we haven't beaten are the two Dutch pairings above us.

"We have home advantage, the crowd, and our family and friends with us so we are hoping to bring back a medal."

© Sportsbeat 2012