Behind the bright futures of British junior tennis

Coaching young elite athletes on and off the court

World-class coaching, exceptional training facilities and an outstanding education – the Loughborough University National Tennis Academy (LUNTA) offers a junior elite tennis experience like no other.

This unique, pro-style training environment is designed to prepare young players for the world of professional tennis. The philosophy at LUNTA promotes the idea that healthy, happy and well players succeed and takes an approach that is rooted in quality of care. By bringing together the world of elite sport with a strong and well-balanced academic environment, players are nurtured to become driven, resilient and confident athletes.

Home to the LUNTA programme and accredited as a UK Sport Elite Training Centre (ETC), Loughborough University is the ultimate base for developing professional aspirations. Not only do players have access to an extensive range of facilities, including indoor and outdoor courts, a performance analysis suite and the ultramodern Powerbase gym, but they are also surrounded by a skilled coaching team who take care of everything from technique and skill to strength and conditioning, nutrition and tournament experience.

This wealthy network of knowledge develops players who have the skills necessary to drive their own journey from junior elite to professional tennis. Academy Director, Nathan Miller, said: “The environment is the key element in athlete development from our perspective and it allows an athlete, especially at the age and stage that we deal with here at LUNTA, to be nurtured and to grow into the person that we need a player to be when they develop onto the Pro Tour. Our nurturing environment allows players to grow as people, and we’ve placed a lot of emphasis and value on personal development and growth.”

Each player benefits from integrated performance support which complements a training plan that is bespoke to them. Including performance analysis, physiotherapy sessions and coaching in performance lifestyle and psychology, this interdisciplinary approach ensures that player wellbeing is at the centre of the LUNTA experience.

Off the court, this wellbeing focus translates into the high-quality education players receive from Loughborough Grammar School and Loughborough High School. As part of the Loughborough Schools Foundation, these schools provide players with in-class teaching, strong pastoral care and home-from-home accommodation in the Foundation’s Boarding Houses.

Talking about his boarding experience, LUNTA player, Eric, said: “My focus during the week is much higher and it makes prep a lot easier because we have time for it, especially when you take away the travel, and I feel like I have a lot more time in the evenings. Having time for myself is really important and that’s what I like most about it.”

Amidst busy training and tournament schedules, providing players with a familiar and consistent sense of school routine is key. Importantly, they enjoy lessons alongside pupils from each of the Foundation’s schools enabling them to develop strong relationships with both their peers and members of staff. This ensures that players benefit from a seamless transition between their tennis and education experiences.

Sean England, Head of Education and Wellbeing at LUNTA, said: “Through our relationship with Loughborough Schools Foundation, we have an appointed member of staff based in the School that are there to really champion our students there. My role here within the tennis centre is to support the players not only with their tennis but also to ensure that they maintain a balanced education programme. So, they maintain the best of both worlds.

On a day-to-day, week to week basis, yes, they will train and play and compete as a player, but they will be in school and classes and lessons as a student. So, they get that full experience.

Sean England, Head of Education and Wellbeing at LUNTA

Through an approach that is very much grounded in care, staff members at LUNTA genuinely have the players’ best interests at heart. They invest time, effort and energy into supporting players both on and off the road, as well as at the Loughborough base, and this results in a programme that produces world class tennis players. LUNTA’s young athletes are supported to reach their full potential and by the time they reach the end of their journey with the Academy, they are fully prepared to pursue bright futures in British tennis.