THE best young players in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are about to take part in one of the most comprehensive searches for new tennis talent ever conducted in this country.

Top national coaches from The Lawn Tennis Association are staging a nationwide tour over an eight-week period to find the next generation of British tennis champions.

And 15 boys and girls aged between ten and 13 have been selected by Hampshire County Performance Officer Colin Jakeway for a 'Roadshow' at the Hampshire Tennis and Health Club, Southampton, next Thursday.

It is not only their talent that will be under scrutiny. They will also be assessed on their mental toughness, their love of competition and their potential to be successful in the demanding senior game.

The search for the next Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski - or Virginia Wade come to that - has been developed by LTA Performance Director Patrice Hagelauer, former coach to top French stars Yannick Noah and Henri Leconte. It will be conducted by a team of senior LTA national training coaches, including former top British players, Jeremy Bates and Mark Cox.

"We want to identify the most talented British youngsters right now and give them every chance to succeed in the game," said Hagelauer. "The search will feed new junior players into the national coaching programme and provide the support and advice they need to become future champions.

"This is a great opportunity for young players who have been inspired by the success of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski to focus on the sport and get the best coaching available," he said.

The LTA also wants to encourage local tennis clubs to develop better junior programmes and attract more young tennis players into the game. The aim is to increase the overall number of competitors and competitive opportunities in the area and to promote a higher standard of play.

Coaches will also offer support to parents to raise their awareness of what it takes for a child to attempt to become a champion, while county coaches will be given practical assistance to develop their best young players.

It is expected that between 50 and 100 players from the Roadshow will be invited to join a series of special individual and group coaching sessions operated by the LTA which will eventually be extended into the Rover Junior Tennis Initiative.

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