CHRISTIAN Malford youngster Stanley Brown says he’s got an extra spring in his step going in to this year’s competition after retaining his status as a member of the Aegon FutureStar programme.

The ten-year-old, who is a pupil at Brinkworth Earl Danby’s School, is celebrating earned a second year on the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) future talent programme, which recognises and supports some of the best junior players in the country.

After impressing at a Talent ID day at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton last year, Brown will receive funding and coaching from the British tennis’ governing body and says that staying on the programme was a huge relief.

“It’s something that I’ve worked towards with my coach for a long time and I was really happy to get on again,” he said.

“We had to do a lot of tests for your fitness and general tennis skills and it was very good.

“I’ve had a few problems with my concentration in the past and getting angry when I’m playing but that’s not a problem anymore.

“I want to do as many competitions as possible this year and enjoy playing as much as I can.”

Brown, who trains with the Wiltshire Tennis Academy in Swindon, currently competes in the ten and under Mini Tennis green category, where youngsters compete on a full-size court using larger rackets and a softer ‘green’ ball.

The young Christian Malford player has already represented Wiltshire at under nine and under ten level and won his first-ever Grade Three competition in Ivybridge, Devon, last October.

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