Samworth Church Academy student Costi Nita is continuing a family tradition by crossing the Atlantic to pursue a pro-tennis career at university.

Eighteen-year-old Costi is now making his final preparations to live and study in the USA only four years after his sister, Tanna Nita, left for Coppin State University in Baltimore, chasing her own dreams.

Having secured a place at The University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky to study sports and exercise science on a tennis programme from this month, after studying at the Mansfield academy, Costi acknowledged it will be a massive step.

“I looked at various universities that offer a tennis programmes, but The University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky stood out to me because their head tennis coach, Chin Teck Tan, is renowned for coaching world-class players,” he said.

Costi says that he has always aimed to pursue a career in tennis.

“I started playing at about three or four years-old. I remember watching the final of Wimbledon on the TV and saying, ‘I’m going to win that,” he added.

“I started playing from there and currently play in Sheffield at both Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre and Abbeydale Tennis Club.”
Costi is already competing at a high standard and has played against players from around the globe.

“I am a tennis player at heart and all I want to do is get on to the pro-circuit for tennis,” he said, saying that he couldn’t have got so far without the support and commitment from his parents.

Costi’s parents, Adrian and Bev Nita, said they have always known their son would take this path.

Bev said: “We are extremely proud of Costi and his sister. Even though we knew Tanna was using this path to gain her master’s degree in business rather than becoming the next Serena Williams, Costi is deliberately using it to further his tennis career.

“As both Adrian and I have lived abroad it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary that our children wanted to do it too. Tanna has always been intrepid and though Costi is a little more cautious, to make his dreams come true he is pushing himself a little out of his comfort zone, — which we are delighted with.”

Costi says there is a small chance he could meet his sister on the tennis circuit and is playfully competitive about the prospect.

“We haven’t made plans to meet up though we will see each other during the holidays,” he added. “Perhaps our respective teams will play each other. There is not really much rivalry now as I can definitely beat her!”

Paula-May Batson, Costi’s tutor at Samworth, said: “Being involved at such a competitive level of tennis shows his self-discipline and dedication to achieve his dreams. And what a dream!”