Tennis fan Mr Mundell met with LTA chief executive Scott
Lloyd to discuss plans to develop the sport in Scotland and
across the UK.
The meeting followed Commons exchanges earlier this year
when MPs stressed the need to capitalise on the success of
the Dunblane-born stars.
The Scottish Secretary and Mr Lloyd met just hours before
three-time Grand Slam champion Sir Andy received his
knighthood at Buckingham Palace from Prince Charles
(Thursday 16 May).
Speaking following the meeting, Mr Mundell said:
I was delighted to meet Scott and hear at first hand the
work the LTA is doing to develop the sport in Scotland,
alongside Tennis Scotland, and across the whole of the
UK.
Andy and Jamie Murray are two of Scotland’s greatest
sports stars. They are also two of the most popular – and
I’m in no doubt their success must be harnessed to
develop tennis. I’m pleased to see progress towards this
with the introduction of a Murray Trophy tournament in
Glasgow in September in honour of the family’s
contribution to the sport.
If we can encourage youngsters to play the game and stay
fit and healthy, that’s great. If we can find the stars
of the future, even better!
LTA CEO Scott Lloyd said:
Scotland has a fantastic sporting heritage and forms a
central part of the LTA’s plans to open up tennis in
Britain and make it a sport for all.
We were delighted to be able to share details of this
work with the Secretary of State for Scotland, including
our £7.5m capital investment in new indoor facilities for
Scotland and our collaboration with Jamie Murray on the
Murray Trophy – Glasgow event later this year. We are
very grateful for his support and look forward to keeping
him updated.
During Scottish Questions on March 27, MPs hailed the
“golden opportunity” of the Murrays success to promote the
game and inspire a new generation of players.
Commons Speaker – also a tennis fan
– backed the calls to build on the “heroic successes” of
the Murray brothers. He also praised “the extraordinary
efforts of Judy Murray, one of the greatest women in the
world of tennis”.
Last year, the LTA announced that Stirling University would
become one of two national academies (along with
Loughborough University).
In September 2018 the LTA organised the inaugural Glasgow
Trophy ATP Challenger at Scotstoun Sports Campus, working
in partnership with Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council,
Tennis Scotland and Event Scotland.
In developing the event for September 2019, the LTA has
worked in close partnership with Jamie Murray to ensure the
tournament excels in meeting the needs of both the players
on court and the fans in the stands. The tournament has
been renamed the ‘Murray Trophy – Glasgow’.
