The award was given for her achievements in Paralympic sport, where she has become the highest ranked Briton, and is also tenth in the world both in the singles and doubles rankings.

Shuker claimed the singles and doubles titles at the Belgian Open, Canadian International and Hilton Head tournaments in 2010.

She also reached the final of the first women's wheelchair doubles tournament at Wimbledon in 2010, as well as coming second in a number of other tournaments.

The 31-year-old competed at the Beijing Paralympic Games for Britain and will be a medal hope next year at London 2012.

Pauline Edden, board director of the Vitalise Woman of the Year Awards, said: "Lucy really stood out from all the candidates for her incredible achievements over the past year.

"Women face many obstacles in their struggle to excel, but the barriers Lucy has had to overcome to become Britain's best wheelchair tennis player are a lesson to us all.

"She has proved that if we never give up pursuing our dreams, we can achieve anything."

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