2013 is an eventful year for British Tennis. Andy Murray won the Championship (the first time after 77 years from a home player) and after 125 years the British Lawn Tennis Association appoints a female president.
66-years-old Cathie Sabin will succeed to Peter Bretherton and the her first task is to welcome and prepare the terrain for the new CEO, the Canadian Michael Downey, that will take over Roger Draper.
The mission ahead is rather tricky as taking aside Andy Murray, the British tennis is not performing well… actually is becoming a little bit of a disaster. People are practising tennis less and less and, (besides Andy) there is no other top100 players in the male section and in the WTA Laura Robson is also the only top 100 player (no good!)
From Cathie
“It’s a huge privilege. At a time when we are trying to raise the profile of women and girls in sport, not just tennis, it’s a great opportunity. It’s one of our big roles, to increase participation for women and girls. If they can see somebody who’s female, who’s got there, but not by an elite player route, but the volunteer route, I think it sends a huge message,” she commented
From Judy Murray
Andy’s mother is a key figure in British tennis to be the Davis Cup Captain. She commented “Judy is just inspirational and charismatic, very hands on, on the court and with coaching. I suppose I’ve got the experience of teaching young people, the disadvantaged, children with behavioural problems. So I can see the full range. Youngsters who don’t know how to behave, we can use tennis to modify their behaviour.
“I was involved in a programme years ago in football, doing the same thing. It was quite amazing the effect that one sport could have on youngsters who were completely losing the plot. I’m in touch with some of them now, and they have just transformed their lives.”
Good Luck!
