Burrage focused on development through LTA Pro Scholarship Programme support
• 4 MINUTE READ
While taking part in the Progress Tour Women's Championships, Jodie Burrage has been discussing her place on the LTA Pro Scholarship Programme (PSP), and how she hopes to utilise the governing body’s support to make similar progress to fellow PSP players Harriet Dart and Katie Boulter.
Burrage, who faces Boulter at the National Tennis Centre on Thursday, was selected for the programme in 2019, which allows her access to world class coaching, science and medicine support from the LTA Performance team, as well as financial support up to £80,000.
The programme supports players aged between 16 and 24 with genuine potential to reach the ATP/WTA top 100 within five years and other supported players include Emma Raducanu, Paul Jubb, Jack Draper and Jay Clarke.
(The PSP) has helped them to get where they are today, so hopefully I’ll be able to go through the same steps they have.
Burrage has impressed since returning to competition post-lockdown, finishing runner up in the first British Tour Premier women’s event in early July and performing well at the Progress Tour Women’s Championships so far.
She said: “Both of them (Boulter and Dart) have done really well, they’ve jumped up to top 100 and I think Harriet’s 120 or so now. (The PSP) has helped them to get where they are today, so hopefully I’ll be able to go through the same steps they have and be able to get where they are too.”
Reflecting on her initial selection for the programme and the impact it’s had on her career so far, she added: “I was really proud to be selected for it – a lot of people believe in you once you get selected for it so I was really happy to have that chance to be on it. It’s allowed me to travel with a coach wherever I go, which is a massive thing for a tennis player as it means you’re not always on your on when you’re travelling.
“It’s allowed me to get a really good fitness trainer and put a lot of time into my fitness which was a massive thing for me. And the mental side of it as well – I’m working with a psychologist at the LTA which is another big part of my tennis and that’s gone really well.”
Iain Bates, LTA Head of Women’s Tennis, said: “Jodie has made good progress in recent years and is deserving of her place on the Pro Scholarship Programme, which provides a range of support for our best developing players during the early stages of their pro careers. She is one of a number of good young players currently on the PSP and at the earlier stages of our player pathway who, along with our support, will hopefully be able to progress into the top 100 and beyond.”
The Player Pathway
The PSP is the key stage of support offered through the LTA Player Pathway before players become eligible for the LTA’s programme of elite support, offered to those who establish themselves in the ATP/WTA top 100 singles or top 30 doubles.
Launched in 2018, the player pathway provides a clear route for high potential players to develop from playing local junior tournaments right through to major professional competition. It starts with affordable, high-quality local training for the youngest children aged 10 and under across a network of 48 Local Player Development Centres, then progresses to 12 Regional Player Development Centres for players aged 14 and under.
Two full-time residential National Academies were launched in 2019, providing world class coaching, science, medicine, and welfare support for those aged 13 to 18, alongside an excellent mainstream education up to at least GCSE-level.
For more information about the LTA Player Pathway and ten-year Performance Strategy, visit our Player Pathway section.
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