Keddie off the blocks for new season

13 January 2010

sports:

Tennis

Dundee’s Alice Keddie gets her season off the blocks this week when Bolton hosts the Aegon Teen Tennis tournament, an international event for under 14s.

This is the first ETA under 14 Grade 1 event the 12 year old will be targeting this season with the intention of climbing into Europe’s top 20 before the year is out.

That her game made progress in 2009 is undeniable. Her serve has become more potent, her cross court backhand is wider, deeper and more of an attacking shot.

“My decision making on when to go down the line especially on the forehand has improved and become more effective,” said Alice.

“I have more belief in myself and my game and trust my mental, physical and tactical skills when needed.”

Others have belief in Alice too. Last month she was one of 43 players named by The Lawn Tennis Association last month in its 2010 Team AEGON, a group of Performance Players who receive the highest level of support from the LTA.

Alice, one of 14 players who have progressed through from the AEGON FutureStars Programme, has been coached by Mark Walker since she was eight years old. Supporting her is the Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport, part of the Scottish Area Institutes of Sport network that provides high performance expertise to Scotland’s potential world class talent.

The support will help both Alice and her long term coach, Mark Walker. “Being part of Team AEGON means we can make her programme bigger and we can be more specific on areas we want to improve,” he said.

“I can spend more time with her, travel with her internationally and can get the job done in our own environment – create a far more effective programme for her.

“I don’t think that people down south have the same level of support that I get here from The Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport.

“They do a great job with Strength & Conditioning, video, physio and medical back up. It helps a lot having everyone working together and they all link in with the things I’m working with on court.

“Alice is very athletic, keen and willing to work hard on the court. Every time she is on the court she wants to improve and she will drive towards her full potential.”