GB National Tennis Academy shut down after failing to find next Andy Murray

The GB National Tennis Academy in Stirling, set up following the success of Sir Andy Murray and brother Jamie, is being shut down just three years after it opened.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) confirmed on Wednesday that the operation would be moved to Loughborough – the home of its other national academy – from the summer of 2024.

Tennis Scotland chief executive Blane Dodds proclaimed the programme at the University of Stirling could provide “a pathway for champions” when it opened in 2019.

Brazilian Leonardo Azevedo was recruited to lead the coaching team, alongside Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith and Colin Fleming.

But it unearthed only one Scot – Matthew Rankin – during a period severely impacted by the coronavirus crisis and a review by the LTA concluded it should be shut down when its contract expired in two years.

News of its impending closure emerged at a time when Tennis Scotland has been struggling to meet its target of more than doubling the number of the country’s indoor courts from 112 to 225.

Despite moving to an expanded single national academy at Loughborough, the LTA has pledged to support the same number of players, provide additional support for those aged 14-16 who do not enter the academy but may be late developers, and to create an improved Scottish performance pathway for younger players.

It said: “We anticipate the plans for these improvements will be finalised by the end of 2022 with the transition beginning from 2023 onwards. Collectively, these changes would result in an increased number of young British players receiving LTA Performance pathway support, an increased number of Scottish players receiving support, while maintaining at least the same number of players currently supported as National Academy scholars.

“Changes to the existing academies won’t take effect until 2024 to ensure all current national academy scholars will continue to be fully supported for the term of their agreements.”

A Tennis Scotland spokesperson said: “We are in ongoing dialogue with the LTA to deliver an enhanced performance strategy and pathway for Scottish tennis talent.”