Hull tennis ace Katie O’Brien has hailed the depth of tennis talent in the region, as youngsters from across the North East and Yorkshire took part in the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) Regional Talent ID finals.

The British number two backed the youngsters who took to the courts in a bid to showcase their skills with the racket.

25 players aged between 8-10-years-old were put through their paces in front of LTA’s Talent ID team who aim to unearth youngsters with the potential attributes to make a real impact on the game.

O’Brien, emphasizes the importance of supporting young talent. She said;

“It’s great to know that the LTA is tapping into the talent in the region. I know how passionate people here are about sport, so if we can get more people playing tennis to the highest level, it’s going to benefit the whole country, not just the North East.”

The regional event took place at the Nuffield Tennis Centre and is part of the LTA’s national programme designed to spot talent at a young age and provide them with the support they need.

The youngsters were assessed on tennis and fitness skills as well as match play sessions to assess their tactical skills. The ‘stand out’ starlets will progress through to National Talent ID sessions, due to take place in early summer, to be evaluated alongside the best tennis talent in Great Britain.

Andrew Lewandowski, Head of Talent Management at the LTA, said;

“Identifying talent from an early age is crucial for the sport and we’re confident that these young players will demonstrate that we have a wealth of talent coming through in the junior ranks.

“Tennis is a sport where both skill and athletic ability need to be identified and developed step by step.

“Players will be involved in a range of activities which will allow the coaches to evaluate both potential and current progress in these areas. Also through playing competitive games it allow the coaches to identify the ones who are both competitive and determined.

 “With the right support we hope that each of these players will go on to reach their full potential.”

The LTA’s Talent ID programme is now into its third year. In this time, over 5,000 players all over Great Britain have been seen from county, through to regional and national level.

Following the first day of the LTA Talent ID regional final in Hull (16-17 March).