It’s not every day that we get a Maltese athlete to cheer on in the big leagues. 16-year-old Helene Pellicano, Malta’s rising tennis star, started off 2019 on a fantastic note, soaring a staggering 173 places in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings and currently ranks at 715^th in the world. Not bad for an athlete from a tiny Mediterranean island! 

Helene is the highest-placed Maltese player in the WTA rankings, with the other Maltese in the listing being Elaine Genovese, who is in 902^nd place. The 16-year-old prodigy trains at the Lozano Altur Academy in Valencia and has won various international competitions. There’s no stopping this girl!

The rising star will start her year with a bang, making her debut in the Grand Slam scene later this month when she competes in the Australian Open for Juniors. #MakingMaltaProud!