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Elegant Point · Futures qualifying

LTA Strategy

Elegant Point · Futures qualifying

Chatting to a couple of coaches who are stuck on level 3 and want to progress to level 4 coach, theyre both a bit disillusioned with the system, as the course runs 1x per year, has 16 spaces and costs £1575 which they would have to pay themselves

Also chatted to a D1 college grad who was hoping to give the pro tour a go and coach at the same time to provide funds to tour. They have 18 months experience as a coach in the US at two different tennis centres, but are unable to even get work as a hitter or coaching assistant here because they dont have any LTA qualifications. They have a job waiting, but will need to get qualified first and have to start at Level 1 - experience counts for nothing according to the LTA

Another coach said theres a shortage of good coaches and predicted if the LTA carries on with the current strategy, there will be even fewer coaches in 20 years hmm

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

There's been discussion about Italy's success

Some attribute it to the federation's decision some years back to have a marked increase in lower level ITF events

The US are taking a similar approach

I quote Colette Lewis:

"The SoCal Pro Series is now set to begin its fourth year, with seven consecutive weeks of men's and women's $15,000 tournaments in Southern California beginning next Monday. I have an article in the works about this Circuit, which will be serving as a template for increasing ITF-level events in the United States in the next two years."

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
There's been discussion about Italy's success

Some attribute it to the federation's decision some years back to have a marked increase in lower level ITF events

The US are taking a similar approach

I quote Colette Lewis:

"The SoCal Pro Series is now set to begin its fourth year, with seven consecutive weeks of men's and women's $15,000 tournaments in Southern California beginning next Monday. I have an article in the works about this Circuit, which will be serving as a template for increasing ITF-level events in the United States in the next two years."

I think it is a good move and hope the UK can increase its events.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

www.instagram.com/p/DLCHWb9IN1c/

This is two juniors going up to Loughborough academy

Dani Britton and Grace Watson

Only five chosen, apparently, and they're two of them

Nice interviews and videos on local TV

Elegant Point · Futures qualifying

What do the LTAs new plans for an additional 38 grass courts at Wimbledon, plus a new show court mean for the NTC at Roehampton? confuse

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/about_wimbledon/the_wimbledon_park_project.html

Lambda · ATP level

I'm not sure you're asking what you mean to be asking.

Taken as asked, the answer is Wimbledon expansion has nothing to do with the LTA and won't have any effect on the NTC. Why do you think it would?

If what your really asking is what effect will it have on the Wimbledon qualifying ground adjacent to the NTC, then I guess the answer is the Bank of England will sell it as they were looking to do a few years ago before the AELTC negotiated a 15 year lease to secure the grounds for qualifying while the expansion site is developed.

Elegant Point · Futures qualifying

Lambda wrote:
I'm not sure you're asking what you mean to be asking.

Taken as asked, the answer is Wimbledon expansion has nothing to do with the LTA and won't have any effect on the NTC. Why do you think it would?

If what your really asking is what effect will it have on the Wimbledon qualifying ground adjacent to the NTC, then I guess the answer is the Bank of England will sell it as they were looking to do a few years ago before the AELTC negotiated a 15 year lease to secure the grounds for qualifying while the expansion site is developed.

Obvs not concise enough in my Q cry

But yes - if the grass courts at Roehampton are currently used for the Wimbledon qualies ? If the expansion at Wimbledon means the qualies will be held there, then why would Roehampton need so many grass courts? They must be costly and time consuming to maintain?

iPad keeps changing my word

-- Edited by Elegant Point on Monday 28th of July 2025 04:03:59 PM

-- Edited by Elegant Point on Monday 28th of July 2025 04:04:30 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I've decided to put this in the LTA thread as I don't want to 'pollute' Hannah's one

And, firstly, THIS IS HEARSAY

I normally only post my opnions or things I've heard/seen first hand (or sometimes heard from someone I completely trust)

This is a story from someone on another forum (that I don't belong to but read sometimes) - and this poster is a GB tennis coach (he says) but speaks a lot of sense, and a lot of what he says confirms what I've seen firsthand so I tend to trust the guy

Anyway, with that caveat (and genuine apologies to Mr Bates if not true):

Supposedly, after Hannah did so well, winning the Orange Bowl thingy, Jez offered his services as her full-time one-on-one coach. This was a great favour

He doesn't normally lower himself to deal with youngsters (I might be putting my gloss here

)

Anyway, the Klugman family/team politely declined

And seemingly Jez got the complete hump. Not only was he offended and cross, however, which would be fine (up to a point) but he got rather nasty about it and, in the next few months as Hannah didn't have great results, he started telling everyone she was never going to be anything anyhow, not without him, and she'd never even make the top-200 the rate she was going ....

Which, now just my opinion, doesn't surprise me because I have heard him, firsthand, be remarkably rude and dismissive about various players (Sam Murray, Maia Lumsden, Ranah ....)

Elegant Point · Futures qualifying

If the allegations CD heard about are true then what a really sad, petty way for Mr Bates to behave

The attitude displayed by Bates and the broader approach of the LTA are deeply problematic, reflecting a lack of genuine support and a dismissive, arrogant mindset that undermines talented players' autonomy and confidence.

Bates's alleged reaction being offended by a player declining his offer and then resorting to petty insults and dismissivenessdemonstrates a fundamental failure to understand the importance of respectful, constructive relationships within the sport. Instead of fostering a nurturing environment, such behavior breeds resentment and discourages young players from developing their own paths, ultimately stifling growth and undermining the very talent the LTA claims to want to develop. This attitude not only damages individual players confidence but also tarnishes the sport's integrity, showing a lack of humility, professionalism, and true leadership from those in charge.

Hannah clearly made the right choice wink and I wish her all the best for the future !!

-- Edited by Elegant Point on Sunday 17th of August 2025 10:32:27 AM