Fitzpatrick was playing in her last ever junior event

Anna Fitzpatrick became the first Briton for six years to reach the semi-finals of the girls' singles at this year's Wimbledon, and the BBC Sport website followed her progress throughout.

The 18-year-old from Sheffield is currently ranked 489 in the world, 15 in Britain, and trains at the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy.

"After winning three matches on Friday and reaching the semi-finals in the girls' singles, I really wanted to go all the way.

"I had fallen over the day before in one of my singles matches and hurt my shoulder, so I saw the physio who helped to loosen it up a bit.

"We were put on one of the bigger outside show courts - Court 18. Walking out there in front of quite a lot of people was fine. I didn't notice much of a difference to be honest.

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"The week before, when I was waiting for my ladies' doubles first round, I had been told I might play on Court One, so I'd already gone through that in my head, what it would be like to play on a big court.

"I like playing in front of people who are making a lot of noise, particularly here at Wimbledon when they are behind you.

"I had also got my brothers there again. They were heckling me from behind my chair, calling me the usual nicknames - 'Big Nuts', 'Bloke' and this time 'Deirdre' for some reason. As usual, it helped me to stay relaxed.

If I need wild cards in five years, my window will have passed

"I played OK, but made too many unforced errors. I was playing my game, attacking and trying to come to the net, but she was more solid than me.

"Everyone thinks that girls can't serve and volley or come to the net - hopefully I'm going to prove them wrong, but on the day she made less errors than me.

"At the time, I was disappointed to lose, but OK. I signed a few autographs and gave my towel to some foreign lad who seemed to really want it!

"But when I got to the changing rooms it really hit me. I was gutted - really, really upset. I realised then just how much I had wanted to win the tournament.

"Although I lost, everyone back home was proud of me - my parents who support me so much in every way, and my brothers sent me texts telling me that they were proud of me and that they had enjoyed coming down to watch me.

"They said that they think I have a good future in front of me and hearing that from my brothers gives me confidence.

"When we're together, we're always laughing and joking, but they talk to me after the matches and I see the serious side of them, the family side - they really do support me.

"They're my older brothers, and they take on the complete really well - they rip me all the time, but they are supportive when they need to be!

"Wimbledon this week was my final junior event. Next week I go to Felixstowe to get back to work on my senior career and ranking, and then I will travel to Canada, Russia and America.

"I know that people make a fuss of British players at Wimbledon, but now is when the hard work really starts.

"I spoke to Jez Green last night - he's the fitness trainer at the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy - and he said that this is the start of a very tough, but fun and enjoyable, road. I've only just turned 18, and this is the starting point for me. I want to build on it.

"Seniors is much harder than juniors, but I'm ready to do whatever I have to do to make my mark.

"I want to get into tournaments like Wimbledon on my ranking as soon as I possibly can. Wild cards are good to a certain level, but I will only accept a wild card if myself and my coaches think I can genuinely compete and beat players at that level.

"Hopefully it won't be more than two or three years before I can get into Wimbledon on my ranking. If I need wild cards in five years, my window will have passed.

"I have never even considered what I would do if I didn't make it as a professional tennis player. There is nothing else in life that I really want.

"I want to be a Grand Slam champion, that's my main goal. If I can't do that, I would settle for reaching my potential, whatever that is, because then I would have no regrets.

"Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I have had a lot of fun writing it.