Glasgow's Maia Lumsden and James Shemilt are making a name for themselves and the Academy at David Lloyd Glasgow West End, where they are forging their young tennis careers.

Last month at Roehampton, Maia consolidated her position as Britain’s top under 12-year, after winning the AEGON Junior Grand Prix Masters 12 and under title.  At the same competition, James moved his own game up a notch to reach the boys semi final.

“Maia has been the top player in the under 12’s domestically,” said her delighted coach, Toby Smith.  “She was favourite in the Masters so it was a case of managing the pressure she was going to feel.  She played within herself very comfortably, dealt with the situation well and proved she’s a top player.

“James had, in the Grand Prix circuit preceding the Masters, finished seventh, then improved and finished fifth and fifth.  For the last year he has been consistently in the top six or eight in Britain, finishing in the quarter finals of national events.

“The challenge for him last weekend was to push one step further, so it was great he managed to make the semi finals. That should give him the chance to get in the top four in GB.”

Maia and James have been working with Toby, who runs the Academy with younger brother Gary Smith, for the past four years.  They are in the vanguard of youngsters emerging from a setup which invests heavily in a select few athletes.   

“Our philosophy is not to have too many kids, but the ones we look after we look after very well,” said Toby, who has five players in his stable on GB squads.

“They all get good programmes and we make it very personal.  We have a lot of support in Scotland, from National Coach Eleanor Lightbody, Judy Murray, and from the LTA.

The pair are recent inductees to the West of Scotland Institute of Sport, part of sportscotland’s institute of sport regional network which provides integrated support in the form of high performance expertise. 

Its expert teams work together to support Scottish governing body-identified athletes, delivering essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.

“Developing the player is the most important thing and that’s where the institute is going to be very helpful,” said Toby.
 
“We have already used (physiotherapist) Sue Warwick who has been screening the athletes.  They are very young players so we need to make sure we are looking after them properly. 

“For me it’s a great opportunity to get expert advice on areas I’m not so knowledgeable on.  Through the institute we will tap in to other resources; for instance it will help educate the strength & conditioning trainer at our club, specifically on tennis using the institute to lead the programme.

“The important thing is that the institute support is sports specific.  We are working with athletes that are competing internationally at the top end so the institute will be an essential part of the programme.”

In January Maia proved she was ready to begin challenging at international level after a successful week at Teen Tennis (under-14 event) in Bolton.  

“This is a major event and Maia was put in to give her experience of the environment,” said Toby.   She beat the sixth seed in qualifying then beat the top seed in qualifying and won a round of the main draw.

“That was well beyond our expectations; a real bonus and from it she got her first tennis Europe under 14 ranking points.” 

RE-J