Tennis legend John McEnroe and British number one Tim Henman have teamed up with the Lawn Tennis Association for the launch of Ariel Tennis Ace – a campaign to find the next potential British tennis champion.
Ariel Tennis Ace, also backed by BBC Sport Academy, is searching untapped talent and kids who have never played tennis before. Four regional open Talent ID days are happening across the country in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol and London, where LTA scouts will be putting kids aged 9-12 through the Tennis Ace Challenge to see whether they posses the innate sporting ability to get to the top of UK tennis.
If people can’t make it down to a Talent ID day, Ariel is offering 3.8 million free tennis lessons with LTA coaches worth £15 each. Available at 1, 000 locations across the country during summer, Ariel hope to get the whole country involved with tennis in 2004.
John McEnroe says: ‘We need more programmes like Ariel Tennis Ace to find fresh new talent and give kids from all walks of life a chance to play and enjoy tennis. Even if they have never played tennis before, your kids could have the sporting ability and drive that makes a champion, it’s just that they haven’t been discovered yet. Bring them along to one of the Talent ID days and see if you can serve up a future champion.’
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a racket before, because the Ariel Tennis Ace Challenge will find the hidden talent. We’re looking for balance, speed, agility and co-ordination – and the eight non tennis-specific tests will help us spot a potential tennis champ whatever age, background or experience.’
Tim Henman is throwing down the gauntlet to British kids, he says, ‘It’s really important that we find some new British tennis talent. If you’re good at sports, whether it’s football, snowboarding basketball or skateboarding, you probably have what it takes to be an Ariel Tennis Ace. So if you think you could give me a run for my money as a future British no.1, get down to your nearest Ariel Tennis Ace audition day with a parent or guardian. Take our challenges and see if you have the talent it takes!’
Mark Petchey, Head of Men’s National Training at the LTA says: ‘With Ariel’s support, our two Ariel Tennis Aces will be put on LTA intensive fast-track training to maximise their potential to become a future champion. To secure future champions, we need to find talent early, and that’s why we want youngsters from all backgrounds to come to these Talent ID days.’
Finalists will go forward to a special training camp with John McEnroe in early June, in preparation for playing at a star-studded London final on 14th June with Tim Henman. The Tennis Ace winners will get further coaching from John McEnroe at a Wimbledon Masterclass during the Championships. The Ariel Tennis Ace website www.ariel.co.uk/tennisace includes full details of ID days, registration and how kids can keep fit with the Ariel Tennis Ace challenge.
Ariel, the largest investor in tennis in the UK, is aiming to serve up future champions as well as ‘Championship Whites’ in its third year of sponsoring British tennis. The investment includes sponsorship of British No.1 Tim Henman, 14-year old rising star Jade Curtis, and the ‘Ariel Champions of the Future’ programme which nurtures junior talent up to senior, championship-winning level. All those not selected for intensive training will be fed into local tennis clubs in support of the LTA’s drive to develop more and better players.
For more information, interviews with Mark Petchey and Sandi Proctor or photography, please contact Gareth Mills at LTA Communications on 077922 70676
Alternatively contact the Ariel Tennis Ace press office at Hill and Knowlton:
Natasha Gould D/L: 0207 413 3709 M: 07930 509043 Email: ngould@hillandknowlton.com
Natalie Axten D/L: 0207 413 3767 M: 07747 613773 Email: naxten@hillandknowlton.com
Rebecca Morris D/L: 0207 973 5951 M: 07813 299441 Email: rmorris@hillandknowlton.com
Gemma Hopkin D/L: 0207 413 3040 M: 07818 455373 Email: ghopkin@hillandknowlton.com