IF THE young tennis players recruited to Chris Wilkinson's new Bishopstoke academy show half the determination Francis Benali has brought to his Saints career, there will be some new Wimbledon champi-ons on the way.

Benali's bulldog breed philosophy has taken him from youth football in the Southampton Tyro League to being a virtual fixture over the years in Saints' Premiership side.

And the Southampton FC club skipper demonstrated he was a dab hand with a racquet as well when he popped in to help old mate Wilkinson, whom he first met playing football in the Tyro League, open the academy.

And Wilkinson's father, Reg, was quick to point out that the sort of commitment that is Benali's stock in trade is a vital ingredient of a tennis player's make-up as well.

"They need to have the right attitude as well as the talent," said Wilkinson Senior, who runs the Bishopstoke Tennis Club. "The aim of the academy is to bring on youngsters who can become professional players. We would like to find six or eight of that potential and I would hope that half would succeed."

Wilkinson explained: "This academy will act as an alternative to the LTA Rover Scheme and is only available to a limited number of youngsters who have the necessary drive, ambition and talent to seriously consider a career as a professional tennis player."

The academy was introduced at the opening by Eastleigh Mayor Jane Welsh of the new show court at the Bishopstoke club.

Provided at a cost of £30,000, with contributions from the National Lottery and Hampshire Playing Fields Association, the Varicourt facility enables a conventional hard court to be converted to synthetic clay during the summer.

"It is the preferred surface for training future champions and will be an important part of our development plan for young players," said Reg Wilkinson.

Bishopstoke Tennis Club awards were also handed out:

William Stewart Coaching Awards for progress - girls: 1 Hannah Keeling, 2 Emma Pegler, boys: 1 Luke Couper, 2 Simon Foster. Nestle Club Ladder awards - under-14: 1 Chris Pegler, 2 Matt Pond. Under-12: 1 Andrew Lambert, 2 Gavin Brown.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.