Tennis Scotland and LTA agree record investment in Scottish performance tennis

Designed to create a clear route towards professional tennis and competitive success, the investment will fund the new Scottish National Player Pathway (SNPP), with the ultimate goal of delivering more Scottish players into the LTA Performance Pathway by the age of 16.

Beginning in August 2024, the five-year agreement will see substantial annual investment of around half a million pounds into the SNPP, which has been structured to ensure the best Scotland-based players obtain world-class training and competition programmes at all stages of their development.

In addition to the enhanced pathway supporting a programme for the best players aged 11 and under, the new investment will also focus on a dedicated Scottish Player Development Centre (SPDC) programme for the most talented 11-14 year-olds. Also included in the SNPP is a transition programme for players aged 14 to 16 as they continue their tennis journeys.

Tennis Scotland will soon be announcing an exciting team of national performance coaches for the SNPP, which will operate from a central hub at the Scottish National Tennis Centre at the University of Stirling, alongside provision in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Younger players, meanwhile, will also benefit from focused support at a local level, and Tennis Scotland will be consulting with District associations over delivery of the enhanced pathway.

Players at each stage of the pathway will receive support from the Tennis Scotland national performance coaching team and regular national training camps, as well as services from the sportscotland institute of sport.

As well as the SNPP, which will begin immediately after the end of the five-year GB National Tennis Academy at the University of Stirling, Tennis Scotland will continue to deliver the National Player Programme (NPP) for Scottish professionals who are competing internationally. As part of the new investment and structure, a Base Coach for the NPP – also based at the Scottish National Tennis Centre in Stirling – is being recruited.

'Clear route to professional tennis'

Blane Dodds, Chief Executive of Tennis Scotland, said: “The Scottish National Player Pathway will create a clear route towards professional tennis for our most talented young players, providing them with world-class coaching and competitive opportunities.

“We are delighted with the new investment from the LTA, which will enable more of our best under-16 Scottish players to obtain additional support.

“Scotland has enjoyed extraordinary success in tennis in recent years, with Andy and Jamie Murray and Gordon Reid all becoming world number one, and we would like to capitalise as best we can on their achievements for those they have inspired.

“Tennis is thriving as a sport in Scotland, with record club membership, growing participation among adults and children, investment in new facilities and more Scots than ever competing at the highest levels.”

Michael Bourne, LTA Performance Director, said: “We are delighted to be able to deliver this new five-year investment into performance tennis in Scotland. We are working closely with the team at Tennis Scotland to ensure this investment is focused on giving more talented Scottish players an opportunity to progress to the LTA Performance Pathway by the age of 16.

“Scottish players have a proud history of contributing to the success of British tennis and this investment aims to build on that success for the long-term. 

“We look forward to supporting Tennis Scotland and all the national coaches and players as they aim to capitalise on the new investment.”