Jeremmy Bates Appointed Lead Coach For British Women’s Tennis

Written by: Staff on 14th February 2013

Jeremmy Bates Appointed Lead Coach For British Women’s Tennis |

Jeremy Bates, Britain’s long time no.1 in the era before Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski but sacked by the Lawn Tennis Association as Head of Performance soon after Roger Draper took over as chief executive seven years ago, has been re-appointed as lead coach for women’s tennis in a major shake-up.

Bates, who reached a career high ranking of world no.54 in 1995 and won both the Wimbledon and Australian Open mixed doubles titles in partnership with Jo Durie, has spent the last couple of years working as individual coach to Britain’s WTA veteran Anne Keothavong.

Leon Smith has decided his role of being in charge of both men’s and women’s tennis as well as being Davis Cup captain did not allow him the opportunity of concentrating on certain tasks so Iain Bates (no relation to Jeremy) has been named Head of Women’s Tennis.

The two Bates’s will work alongside Judy Murray who will continue in her role as Fed Cup Captain and Player Development Advisor. The mother of world no.3 Andy will spearhead the LTA’s work to develop and support more female coaches to work with the younger female players.

Iain Bates, who was formerly LTA Women’s Tennis Manager, will continue as coach of Fed Cup team while Jeremy, will be responsible for developing coaching standards both within the team and with those working with our best players aged 16 and over across the performance network.

“This is a really exciting time for the women’s game in this country,” said Draper. “I’d like to congratulate Iain on his new role and I’d also like thank Leon for the key part he has played in the development of the Women’s team over the past two years. His focus now is going to be just as important, in overseeing the transition of some of our highly talented male juniors into the senior game, and developing the AEGON GB Davis Cup Team.”

“These changes will help us not only to deliver success in this area, but also enable us to continue to use the inspirational performances of our players to encourage more women and girls to play and follow tennis.”

Meantime Britain is already making security arrangements after being drawn to travel to Argentina for the Fed Cup World Group II play-off. More than 30 years after the two nations went to war over sovereignty of what the British term the Falkland Islands and Argentines maintain are the Malvinas, tensions are again rising over the issue after increased rhetoric.

An LTA spokesman said: “The safety and wellbeing of our team is our priority. We have good relations with the Argentine Tennis Federation. We have been to Buenos Aires recently for a Davis Cup tie and found the co-operation to be first-rate. We will monitor the situation and keep in regular contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: British tennis news. Lawn Tennis Association, Greg Rusedski, Jeremy Bates, Lta, Tim Henman