THREE talented juniors from Thongsbridge Tennis Club have been selected for the Aegon FutureStars programme.
Fifteen-year-old Holly Horsfall, Finn Murgett (11) and Barney Fitzpatrick (10) have been included in the Lawn Tennis Association initiative after impressing on the court this year.
They will now get additional support from the LTA, with talent assessments carried out on players aged 13 and under and rankings for all the other age groups.
Thongsbridge’s trio are part of the 2013 intake which numbers 486 top juniors from around the country – who all receive varying levels of funding and support from the LTA.
Leon Smith, LTA Head of Men’s and Women’s Tennis, said: “We are committed to identifying and supporting our most talented players, and the Aegon FutureStars programme is central to this process for young players who are starting out in the game.
“It’s a long journey for any player hoping to make an impact on the game, but we hope that with the right support, these players are given the best possible chance of reaching their full potential.”
British No2 Heather Watson – who won the Japan Open this year – added: “The Aegon FutureStars programme identifies the most talented young players in the country and so it’s great that these players have been chosen to join the squad.
“I hope they use this support to help them achieve their dream of playing at the highest level.”
Ian Murray, Head of Sponsorship at Aegon, added: “We’re delighted to continue supporting the LTA with this development.”
Information at www.lta.org.uk
