FIJI'S Tarani Kamoe is expected to improve her world junior ranking after an impressive outing in the New Zealand Tennis Under-18 Summer Championships singles event in Auckland last week.
Kamoe reached the third round of the ITF grade three tournament unfortunately going down in a close battle to Mayu Iwai of Japan 7-5, 6-4.
ITF regional head coach Andrew Mailtorok said Kamoe played well staying in the long hard rallies.
"Tarani has worked on her mental toughness," Mailtorok said.
"I am very proud of her as she is the only player from the Pacific Island nations to get through to the first round and second rounds."
"By doing this she has earned about 15 points that would improve her ranking."
Kamoe has a world junior ranking of 563.
Fellow country mate Annie Shannon lost in the opening round. Mailtorok said Annie made a lot of errors.
"A bad call from her opponent mentally upset Annie," Mailtorok said.
Annie lost to Kaoko Kitakawa of Japan 1-6, 6-3, 1-6.
She was a world junior ranking of 620.
Annie and Kamoe won the doubles title during the Wilson Canterbury International Tennis Federation Grade Four Championship in Ashburton last week.
Annie and Tarani are both frontrunners for a spot in the national team for the 2015 Pacific Games.