Squash star Jenna Gates today revealed she has overcome a back injury that threatened her promising career and is ready to turn professional.

Jenna has been catapulted into the world top 60 after victories in the United States and Canadian Under-19s Opens.

The Sussex champion has also been playing on the senior tour since September after leaving Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College.

Jenna, who has been offered a place at Sheffield University to study law, said: "I wanted to use this gap year to make up my mind about going to university in the autumn or continuing with squash.

"What has happened in the past few months makes me think I would like to become a professional player. I enjoyed the taste of winning in America and Canada, scoring victories on the senior event, and the general lifestyle.

"Being 60 in the world means that I will be high enough ranked to get into more senior tournaments.

"I can always take up my studies later on but I might not be able to pick up my squash so easily after university.

"It's a long way from where I was in 2002. I was told a prolapsed disc might make it impossible for me to carry on playing.

"I love squash and it would have been awful to give up but through trial and error the experts were able to find ways for me to strengthen my back with physiotherapy.

"I have to exercise every other day but now the back seems fine."

Jenna hammered No.1 Neha Kumar 3-0 in Canada and beat Lily Lorentzen, the tournament favourite and American No.1, 3-1 in the USA.

Jenna said: "My mother Joann is from New York and Yale wasn't too far for my American family to come up and roar me on.

"I might have been taking on the home player but I had plenty of fans. The people I stayed with in Canada were there to cheer me on too.

"Canada was a huge boost for me and helped to make up for missing out on the Irish Junior Open title. I was hoping to win that but only made the semi-final."

Her first experience of the senior circuit was the Monte Carlo Open in October.

She said: "I enjoyed that. I managed to get a win and qualify for the main draw."

But a low came the following month when she competed against Australian Heidi Mather at the Doha Classic in Qatar.

She said: "I had to play with a borrowed kit and racket after my luggage went missing in transit. It was hard enough playing in such a prestigious event, particularly as Heidi was a top 40 player.

"The trip didn't get off to the best of starts. I missed my original flight to Doha because I was stuck on the M23 following an accident.

"But it showed me the sort of things that can happen to a professional player and that you have to get through it.

"It's hectic with the travelling. The standard, as you would expect, is high and you have to train harder. But I've relished the challenges on and off court. There is no cattiness, which is something you might expect from players who are all rivals."

It has helped having Linda Elriani, the world No.7 from Eastbourne, around.

The pair train under coach Mike Harris at Corals in Hove.

Jenna said: "Linda was in Qatar with me and it was good to have a familiar face. Linda has been on the circuit for more than ten years and can offer me advice."

Jenna hopes she can take up the reins from Elriani who is set to quit after the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

She said: "Linda has been an inspiration and I hope I can pick up where she left off. I'll try my best."

Jenna is also grateful to the support she has received from dad Alan, her former coach, and her mum.

She said: "My dad works for British Airways which helps when it comes to flights but going around the world is an expensive business.

"They've always been there for me. I've lessened the pressure on them by passing my driving test. It means I can ferry myself to tournaments in this country."

Jenna will compete in the Dayton Open in Ohio this month as she continues to test the water on the world stage.

This week she competes in the British Junior Open in Sheffield.

Jenna is seeded to reach the quarter-finals of the under-19s tournament.

Harris, who also trains British Open competitors Rachel Willmott (under-17s), Tom Pashley (under-17s) and Chris Simpson (under-19s), is delighted Jenna has overcome her injury problems.

He said: "I am proud of the way she has fought back after 18 months out with back trouble especially as she was told it could be the end.

"Winning in Canada and the States underlines she has got her belief back.

"Her last major titles came about four years ago when she won the French Open and British Closed under-15s titles. It's been too long but now she's right back.

"I'm delighted she is considering going professional. It will be tough but I think she can make a go of it. She's talented and dedicated enough."