ALEXIS Canter is prepared for the long road to success after going full time on the men’s tour, writes Jack Johnson.

The Long Wittenham ace is stepping up his bid to make it big in the sport by playing on the ITF Futures pro circuit.

It is not a new experience for Canter, who had played 18 senior tournaments before August this year.

But it is the first time the 18-year-old has not prioritised his schedule around the ITF Junior tour, with his appearance in the boys’ singles at Wimbledon in July his very last at the level.

With his focus purely on men’s tennis, Oxfordshire’s No 1 is ready to step it up a gear.

Canter said: It is certainly different (to the junior tour).

“It feels like it is going to be a tough journey to where I want to get to, but I feel like it’s doable.”

“I knew how tough it was going to be to make the step to men’s tennis.

“I am certainly working hard to get myself to a standard where I can start pushing through the draws.”

Canter, who has a singles ranking of 1,843 and doubles of 1,296 on the ATP World Tour, has enjoyed success in recent weeks.

He earned his first point of 2016 in beating Majed Kilani in the first round of the Egypt F20 Futures in Sharm El Sheikh.

The teenager then picked up 12 doubles points, partnering Neil Pauffley, in reaching back-to-back semi-finals in Israel at Ashkelon and Kiriyat Gat.

Canter has been working under David Sammel at Bath University since Wimbledon and began a three-week fitness block on Monday.

He hopes it will boost his bid to climb inside the top 1,000 of the singles rankings by the end of the year.

“Futures is tough, it is so physical,” said Canter.

“I just need to get a bit stronger.”

“I will hopefully be able to put some more weight on my ball and that will help me.”