Tennis: Venus follows Hingis towards the stars: Unseen American steps into professional spotlight as Swiss prodigy takes her first step on court today

AS HEIDI takes her first step on the mountain this evening, in the guise of Martina Hingis, another schoolgirl is preparing to be launched on the women's tour ahead of the age restrictions due to be implemented next year.

Venus Williams, an American who turned 14 in July, has received a wild card for a debut in the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland, California, on 31 October. Williams, unlike Hingis, has been groomed in virtual secrecy and her potential has not been exposed to competition even at junior level.

She is coached by her father, Richard, who decided against an August debut at a tournament in Los Angeles but finally has been persuaded to abandon caution and allow his daughter to compete against the likes of Martina Navratilova and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the Oakland event.

'Venus has no record of any kind and has only been seen in a few hit-and-giggle pro-am celebrity doubles,' Ana Leaird, the Women's Tennis Association Tour's director of public relations, said yesterday. 'But some of the top coaches in America have raved about her shot-making, and agents have been queuing up to sign her. Wendy Turnbull took part in a celebrity doubles against Venus and her sister Serena (aged 13). Wendy said she hit a three- quarter pace serve, not knowing what to expect, and the ball came back like a whiplash. She was also impressed by Venus's hand speed at the net.'

Asked if it was wise to allow untried players into tour events, Leaird said: 'That's what wild cards are for, to give an opportunity to players who would not otherwise get into an event.'

Hingis, the French Open and Wimbledon junior singles champion, is due to play her first match on the tour, aged 14 and four days, against Patty Fendick, a 29-year- old Californian ranked No 45 in the world. Hingis intends to continue her schooling between tournaments; Fendick graduated from Standford with a degree in psychology.

Their first-round match in the dollars 750,000 ( pounds 500,000) European Indoor Championship would have taken place last night, but Fendick requested a day's rest after successfully competing in the doubles final in Leipzig on Sunday.

Such is the interest in tonight's contest that the other 30 players in the tournament requested a free evening so they could watch, and a WTA board meeting has been put back an hour.

'I've not known so much intensity for a long time,' Leaird said. 'The locker-room is split. Half the players think that Patty will kill Martina and half think that Martina will give Patty a tough time.'

Those who back Fendick consider that her experience, fighting spirit and capability on a surface as fast as the carpet court at the Saalsporthalle here will prove decisive. Those who fancy the Swiss player's chances believe youthful skill and exuberance will produce a home success.

'Obviously, I would have preferred to meet a baseline player,' Hingis said, 'but I have practised a lot on carpet and feel ready. For me there is no difference between playing at a major WTA Tour tournament or playing the junior finals at Wimbledon or Paris.' Aside from the prize-money, that is.