Tennis
Young ace Jake has a bright future ahead

A PROMISING young tennis player from Rugby has been highlighted as one of the brightest talents in the country by being included in the Lawn Tennis Assocation's (LTA) Aegon FutureStars programme.

Emerging 12-year-old Jake Hersey, who trains at Edgbaston Priory Club, has earned his place on the programme following a successful year on court and will now receive aided support from the LTA.

The Aegon FutureStars programme recognises and supports some of the best juniors in the country, based on the individual player’s talent ID assessment for players aged 13 and under, and rankings for all other age groups.

The talented youngster has been included as part of the 2013 intake of players and will be part of a group of 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 number two Heather Watson added: “The Aegon FutureStars programme identifies the most talented young players in the country and so it’s great that Jake has been chosen to join the squad.

“I hope Jake uses 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 the development of the most talented tennis players in the country through Team Aegon and the Aegon FutureStars programmes.”

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