A national junior tennis academy is on the cards, capitalising on the success of Andy Murray (despite his recent form). The TES Scotland understands that Tennis Scotland plans to set up the school in Stirling by September next year.
It will follow the opening of a new national tennis centre for adults within the next few weeks. Both will be linked to the Scottish Institute of Sport, widely credited with the triumphs of the Scottish swimming team at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Talks are believed to be under way with local schools about the feasibility of offering lessons to children who attend the academy.
Leon Smith, Lawn Tennis Association training manager for Scotland, who coached Andy Murray from the age of 11 to 17, said two boarding schools had already expressed interest in tying in.
One model could be the system in Spain where students play tennis in the morning, attend school for two hours in the afternoon and practise again until 6pm.
Mr Smith said a talent identification process would begin as young as the ages of six or seven.
Scotland Plus 7
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