David Felgate is today named as the Lawn Tennis Association’s Director of Performance.
The 39-year-old, who coached Tim Henman for five years and has also worked with rising Belgian star Xavier Malisse, succeeds Patrice Hagelauer who is leaving the LTA to become full-time French Davis Cup coach.
In the last two years Felgate has been Client Manager of the International Management Group based at IMG’s offices in Cleveland, Ohio. His role has involved managing the affairs of Australian Davis Cup star Mark Philippoussis and Brad Gilbert, former coach of Andre Agassi, as well as managing the NASDAQ 100 tournament in Miami.
Felgate has had a long association with the LTA dating back to the 1980s and was Manager Men’s National Training from 1992 until he left to coach Henman in 1996.
Felgate said: ‘I am very excited to have this opportunity in what I consider to be one of the top jobs in world tennis, not just in Britain. I believe that Patrice has implemented some lasting reforms, but of course I will have my own ideas on how we get the best out of our National Training department and the players themselves.’
LTA Chief Executive John Crowther said: ‘I am delighted that David has accepted the opportunity to follow Patrice as Director of Performance. This is a key role in British tennis and I am certain that David is the best person to build on the foundations laid by Patrice over the last four years. David believes that the Performance Programme introduced by Patrice in 2000 is a vital landmark in British tennis and now we have to move on to the next level.
‘We are undergoing a sea change in British tennis and I am very confident that David will promote the highest standards among players and coaches in this country. I said last December when we announced news of Patrice’s departure that we were looking for a candidate who has direct experience of working at the highest levels of performance coaching and David clearly fits the bill.’
Felgate will officially take up his role on March 31 and his appointment comes at one of the most exciting times ever in British tennis with new Director of Tennis Operations Rebecca Miskin having started work at the LTA this week.
Crowther added: ‘The working relationship between David and Rebecca will be crucial to the long-term health of the sport in this country. Rebecca’s role is to increase the playing base and so attract more players and David’s job will be to make those players better. David and Rebecca are both young, ambitious and totally passionate about improving the tennis fortunes of Great Britain.’
For further information contact:
LTA Press Officer Chris Shaw on Tel 020 7 381 7115 or 07971 141343.