STOCKTON youngster Donia Abdel-Aziz has been retained on the Lawn Tennis Association’s AEGON FutureStars Programme for a second consecutive year.
The nine-year-old, who trains at the Northumberland Tennis Academy high performance centre, is one of 395 youngsters selected for the programme which recognises and supports some of the best juniors in the country based on the individual player’s assessment or ranking.
Steven Martens, player director of the LTA, said: “Identifying talent from an early age onwards is crucial for the sport and we’re confident that the 394 AEGON FutureStars will demonstrate that we have a wealth of talent across the different age groups on the player pathway.
“Tennis is a sport where skills need to be developed step by step and we hope that each of these future stars will go on to reach their full potential through the support we provide.”
Championing Abdel-Aziz’s selection is former British number one and US grand slam runner-up Greg Rusedski, who is an ambassador for the LTA.
He said: “Donia knows that this is a great opportunity to improve her game and grow within the sport. She is one of the most talented youngsters in the country – I’m delighted she has been re-selected, and I look forward to seeing her progress for a second year."
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