LTA select West Sussex tennis duo for FutureStars programme

TWO young tennis players have been highlighted as being among the brightest up-and-coming talent in the country after they were selected to join the Lawn Tennis Association's AEGON FutureStars programme.

Ben Stride from Bognor and Molly Warden of Chichester, who are both 15, earned their places on the programme following a successful year on court and will now receive added support from the LTA.

The programme recognises and supports some of the best juniors in the country based on the individual player’s talent ID assessment for players aged ten and under, and rankings for all other age groups.

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The talented youngsters have been chosen as part of the 2011/2012 intake of players and will be part of a group of 477 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 supporting and identifying our most talented players, and the AEGON FutureStars programme is central to this process for young players who are starting out in the game.

“There’s obviously a long way to go for these players. 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.”

Ian Murray, head of sponsorship at AEGON, added: “We’re delighted to continue supporting the LTA with the development of the most talented tennis players in the country.

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“The support provided to the players through Team AEGON and AEGON FutureStars programmes is vital to their individual development and we’re proud to be investing in the future of British Tennis through these initiatives.”