WANBOROUGH wheelchair tennis ace Louise Hunt says she would love to re-form her winning partnership with Lucy Shuker at the Rio Paralympics.

The British numbers two and three combined to win the doubles title at the USN Bolton Arena tournament at the weekend, handing Hunt a second title of the year, and the 24-year-old London 2012 Paralympian is now eager for the duo to hold court together again.

However, with Hunt ranked as Britain’s third best doubles player, it would seem more likely that number two Shuker would combine with the top-ranked Jordanne Whiley at this summer’s showpiece tournament. That partnership came together to win a bronze medal for Team GB in London.

Although any decisions on doubles teams at the Games will not be made until later in the year, Hunt knows she has her work cut out but has not given up on securing a second spot in Rio.

“No decisions have been made for Rio yet but I know that I am the British number three so it will be difficult,” said Hunt, who is almost certain to secure qualification to the singles competition at the Games.

“Anything is possible, I’m just going to work hard for the rest of the year and try to improve my doubles ranking and just see what happens.

“I’d absolutely love to do it, I love doubles so getting a second place at Rio would be fantastic but you can’t think about things like that at the moment.

“I’m really just going to enjoy the year. The last Paralympic year I found quite difficult but now I am more experienced, I am more relaxed, and I am just going to try to make the most of every tournament and match.”

Hunt and Shuker’s victory in Bolton came courtesy of a walkover in the final, with Whiley and her partner Marjolein Buis forced to withdraw after the Dutchwoman fell from her chair en-route to victory in their semi-final.

Although their success did not come the way they planned, Hunt was delighted to finish with a second trophy of the year, having previously partnered South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane to victory at the Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open in January.

“I’m really pleased. It was a shame that we had a walkover in the final but we worked really hard to get there and we beat two good pairs on the way,” added Hunt, who is up to 12th in the doubles world rankings.

“It’s good to get another tournament win under my belt and it’s still only February so hopefully it’s the start of a good year.

“I’m looking to play with different people this year and they are both really good friends of mine too, so it seems to be working well.

“I don’t think Lucy and I had played together since this time last year and we’ve got another tournament coming up in the summer, which we’re looking forward to now.”