HISTORY….

Martin started playing tennis at 7 years old and immediately fell in love with the game.
He played at Lymington tennis club literally all day at the weekends and the coach there, Mike Barrell was quick to spot his natural talent and keenly encouraged him.

The journey began!!
Martin was included in a squad of 4 boys of equal talent and enthusiasm and Mike introduced them to the local tournaments from Southampton to Bournemouth.
Over the next 2 years in the U10 age group Martin won a few tournaments and was always there in the last 4. Amazingly, these little kids played really good tennis and it was all getting very serious.
Mike had been giving him some individual coaching and his goals of playing as a professional were set. He was then advised to get a national rating and into LT A registered tournaments further afield.
At this point Martins Mum started to realise how costly this was all becoming, petrol to local tournaments was enough with which to be coping, plus decent raquets, shoes then there was the regular coaching costs and group squads. On her very limited income, it was going to be very difficult. Martin moved from Lymington to West Hants club where there was access to more people of like ability with which to play.
Martin was chosen to represent Dorset in County matches, we were given odd bits of financial help as his talent and enthusiasm were obvious but not enough to really do the travelling necessary or have the required amount of coaching.
Martin continued playing locally with mixed results over the next 2 years and his rating went up every time possible but one.
At this point Martin is a 4.2 and started the new run at the beginning of March 2002 as a 4.1. Although this is good, the top national players of his age are two or even three ratings higher and he aimed to go up two ratings in one run in order to get into the tournaments that the top players get into (which is decided on rating).
Its difficult to get to that level when you don't get the chance to play those players.
Throughout the winter Martin travels all over the South from Devon to Surrey playing indoor matchplays against same age, same rating, and then in the summer its back to knockout tournaments in age groups but not ratings and here he will come up against higher ratings and better players which he hopes to beat.
After years of very irregular coaching, Martin then had 2 individual hours with his coach, Gary Toop, from Bournemouth,  most days and a 2 hour hit for match practice plus 2 squads with other good players each week.
This resulted in a much more confident and all round better player with lots of enthusiasm and determination to work hard to achieve his goals