Natasha Khan has been singled out as one of the players who can revitalise British tennis.

Khan, from Hove, has rocketed up the world rankings from 900 and is now inside the world's top 500.

Lewes-based Nigel Sears, the new national head coach for women, is impressed with her form and wants her to secure a place in the Federation Cup team. He also thinks she has the talent to break into the top 200 next year.

The domestic women's game has limped along for years. The last top 100 player was Sam Smith in 1998 and it is more than 20 years since Jo Durie was in the top ten. Anne Keothavong is the only current player inside 150.

Sears is the man charged with overhauling the women's game and Khan, 19, is one of the players he thinks can make the breakthrough.

He forms part of the Tennis Leadership Team put together by LTA chief executive Roger Draper which aims to re-establish a "winning mentality" in the British game.

Khan will benefit from a new system of support in areas including fitness, nutrition, psychology and coaching at the new National Training Centre, to be opened in Roehampton in February.

Khan is based with Sears at Queen's Club in London. She said: "It is all positive and really good for me that Nigel is in charge.
"I've known him since I was in an LTA squad at Brighton Health and Racquets Club in Falmer when I was 13.
"He has always believed in me and we get on well.
"We had a good talk last week about what I should be doing. The first thing we looked at was getting my schedule sorted out.

"He felt I needed to do more higherstandard tournaments abroad.
"I'm planning to go to Germany and Italy in the New Year. It will be good for me because I'll see more players and get a clearer idea of standards.
"I've mainly competed in British events this year and been seeing the same players.

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