Andy Murray wants a National Tennis Academy

Andy Murray backs the idea of a New National Tennis Academy in Scotland

Andy Murray meets his fans in Dunblane, Scotland.

Andy Murray returned to his hometown of Dunblane, Scotland on Sunday following his triumph in the US Open beating world number two Novak Djokovic in the final. Murray was greeted by thousands of fans who had waited in the pouring rain to welcome back and see their tennis hero. Whilst he was there he played a few games of tennis with local school children in the same tennis courts he played as a child; he believes there should be a national tennis academy in Scotland for upcoming juniors.

Murray said, “One of the things that is missing is a focal point for tennis that a lot of the promising juniors can go to practise at and have the best coaching. It doesn't need to cost £40m like the one in Roehampton cost - it will be much, much less than that. But if we could have something like that, I think it would make a big difference. I know how difficult things like that can be to pass off and it is a lot of money as well but it would be a nice thing to have and I will support it.” It is obvious that Murray wants Scotland to produce more tennis stars and it could improve British tennis as a whole if the academy gets underway.

Scotland does already have a national centre for tennis at the University of Stirling. The Gannochy National Tennis Centre, where Murray trained as a child, has six indoor courts and two clay courts outside. The US Open 2012 Champion and his mother discussed the idea of a tennis academy with the first minister during a meeting in Dunblane on Sunday and they sounded enthusiastic about the idea. Murray has had a successful Summer coming runner up in Wimbledon, getting Gold and Silver in the Olympics and winning his first Grand Slam, the US Open; therefore it will certainly help the cause with Andy Murray backing the idea of a new National Tennis Academy.

Author Daniel Foster.
You can see Andy Murray play his final tournament of the year when he plays against seven of the world’s best tennis players at the Barclays ATP World Tour Tennis Finals at the O2 Arena in London. He will also play at Wimbledon 2013, Boodles 2013, Aegon Championships 2013 and the US Open 2013 and you can get hospitality and tickets through our sister company Eventality. Call us on 0844 293 2350 or +44 (0)208 166 5102 or request a call back via e-mail.

You can book your Wimbledon 2013 tickets & hospitality packages today. Call us on 0844 293 2350 or +44 (0)208 166 5102, request a call back via e-mail or go online www.wimbledonhospitalityonline.co.uk

Laura Robson wins first round of the Guangzhou International in China

GB Tennis star Laura Robson is carrying on her form into China winning her first match of the Guangzhou International tournament

Laura Robson beats Maria Teresa Torro in the
Guangzhou International first round.

Laura Robson has entered the Guangzhou International in China following her more than impressive showing in the US Open putting Kim Clijsters into retirement and defeating French Open winner, Li Na. Laura Robson reached the last 16 where she unfortunately got knocked out by the US Open 2011 winner, Sam Stosur. The 18-year-old exceeded expectations in the US Open she overtook Heather Watson in her WTA Rankings to be the number one women’s tennis player in Britain. The Olympic mixed doubles silver medallist is now ranked 74th in the world, one place ahead of Heather Watson.

Robson has now entered China's Guangzhou International and she won her first-round match 6-2 3-1 as her opponent Maria Teresa Torro retired in the second game. Robson was dominating Torro and she is clearly growing as a player and getting stronger the more matches she plays and the more she trains. Having forced Maria Teresa Torro to retire in the second game of the first-round match, Robson will play either second seed Zheng Jie or Chinese Taipei's Yung-Jan Chan in the second round of the Guangzhou International, which also features France's world number 10 Marion Bartoli as the top seed.

Robson is looking to tally up as many WTA points as she can ahead of the new tennis year, before the Australian Open gets underway. The world’s top 108 players receive an automatic place in the draw for the Australian Open therefore Robson will try and be as high in the rankings as possible so she doesn’t have to go through qualifiers. Robson is still young and she is improving as a tennis player, she might not win the Australian Open now but she definitely has the potential to be a Grand Slam winner in the future.

Author Daniel Foster.
You can book your Wimbledon 2013 tickets & hospitality packages today. Call us on 0844 293 2350 or +44 (0)208 166 5102, request a call back via e-mail or go online www.wimbledonhospitalityonline.co.uk.