Ranked number one in the county, winning local and national trophies, travelling the globe to play in prestigious tournaments, meeting new people… that’s the life of our Tipton tennis stars.

Amy Sargeant, 17, and Nathan Kiely, 16, are just two of the exciting talents on show at the Academy. We met up with the performance players during one of their coaching sessions and learned very quickly that they are having the time of their lives.
         
Amy, in particular, is heading for success in the sport as she has recently turned pro. Since she began playing tennis at the age of 10, Amy has excelled far beyond her years. Winning national junior tournaments and competing against the best players in her age group around the world, Amy has developed a strong passion for the sport and aims to one day compete with the best players in the world at the Wimbledon Championships. We asked Amy how she got into the sport and what she thinks of the Academy. “My dad introduced me to the sport, my family have influenced my career as well as the coaches. I train five days a week here with the tennis squads. I work with Ron Allan (head coach) on the technical side of my game, Craig Unitt and Grant Fellows help me with my footwork and I can also work on my fitness. You can’t get any better than the facilities here, the indoor courts and the athletics facilities are great.”


We asked Amy how she prepares for a big match. “I get nervous just before a match so I listen to my iPod and do my stretches and warm-ups to try and relax. A match is mentally and physically tough so I need to be 100%. The first set is the worst, I’m usually more relaxed in the third set, fitness gets me through.”

Nathan Kiely, as well as Amy, is ranked number one in the county for their age group. Nathan, who lives just round the corner from Tipton Sports Academy, decided to pop in one day and immediately saw the opportunity to develop his potential and make new friends. “There is a friendly atmosphere and the coaching is really good. I play 3-4 days a week, the courts are great, I recommend it to anyone.”