Norfolk tennis ace to train in Spain with Greg Rusedski
Will Davies at the Easton & Otley College tennis centre. - Credit: Submitted - November 2013
One of Norfolk's star junior tennis players is following in the footsteps of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray by getting some elite coaching in Spain.
Will Davies at the Easton & Otley College tennis centre. - Credit: Submitted - November 2013
Murray's mother, Judy, has been widely praised for having the determination to take Andy to the Sanchez-Casal Academy near Barcelona as a 15-year-old, where Rafael Nadal was also learning the game.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has learned from the Murray family's success and has established elite training camps in La Manga.
Now 14-year-old Will Davies, from Norwich, has been invited to attend one of the LTA elite training camps under the watchful eye of former British number one Greg Rusedski.
The trip adds to an exciting time for Davies, who attends the Langley School in Loddon and plays tennis at the Easton and Otley College tennis centre.
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The youngster has already enjoyed a number of successes this year, including tournament wins in Latvia and Lithuania.
Next he will be travelling to Miami, Florida, in the USA, next month, to take on some of the best in his age category in the world at the Metropolia Orange Bowl International Championship.
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The former number two at under-14 level in the UK, who has recently moved up an age group, has also been selected to play for Great Britain against Belgium at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
Davies said: 'My ambition is to turn professional. It's going to be tough – the average player coming through into the top 100 is aged 27.
'It's a long road – but as long as I keep progressing – hopefully I'm going to make it.'
Davies first started playing tennis at the age of four, initially encouraged by his grandmother and father before tennis coaches spotted his talent early, saying that he had an eye for the game.
He is confident of doing well when he competes in Miami and says he is looking forward to representing his country in Belgium and getting some top tips from 1997 US Open finalist Rusedski in Spain.
'The aim is to try to do the best I can and see where it takes me,' Davies added.
He practices at Easton and Otley College's tennis centre every day - when he is not competing in tournaments - and is trained by Martin Smith and Warren Sawyer, who are both based at the college's Easton campus.
Matt Breese, sports and tennis manager at the Easton campus, said: 'We see many talented tennis players train with us over the years but Will really stands out.
'He has achieved a great deal in a short space of time and we wish him well in Miami.
'As a tennis centre we will be doing all we can to support him in his ambitions to reach the very top of the game.'
