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Despite finishing runner-up behind Jamaica National (JN) women's Open Tennis champion-Shaneka Knight, 13-year-old Michaela Stephens believes that she learned a lot from her first final and relishes playing again against older opponents.

The Liberty Academy student has been playing tennis since she was eight. She played in her first JN Open final last December, where she wowed opponents with her maturity and composure.

"It's very good for me to be in the women's final because it encourages me to play better," she said.

The teen, who named American tennis star Serena Williams as one of her idols, is coached by Thomas Plummer.

Despite mostly playing against younger opponents, Plummer seemed to condition her well for the final.

The eventual champion, 25-year-old Shaneka Knight, was almost twice her age.

"I think I achieved something even though I did not win. It's nice playing someone like a champion at my age.

"I think I can move forward. I am just going to continue playing and training hard to come back again. Jamaica can look out for me," stephens said.

Knight won the electrifying contest at the Liguanea Club 7-5, 6-2.

The older player described Stephens as particularly good for her age and admitted that playing her was a good challenge.

"Probably in two years' time I could not have beaten her," she added.

"It was really a tough match, and I was down 2-5 in the first match. I had to lift my game and find the win. I kind of found out her weakness in the final two points of the game," Knight said.