TEENAGE tennis star Olivia Peet is making her mark in America.
The 19-year-old, from Bury, is a member of Holcombe Brook Sports Club’s team which finished runners-up in last year’s Aegon National Finals.
She is now a freshman at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas – the birthplace of Buddy Holly – and is already showing winning form in US Collegiate tennis.
Peet scored back-to-back wins against Tulane and New Mexico last month, and is inspiring a new generation of young tennis players at her home club.
Holcombe Brook’s head coach Tom Lemon, who was named 2018 Lancashire Coach of the Year, says Peet’s success is testament to her own talent and dedication.
And he believes there is no reason why the club’s other future stars cannot follow her lead.
He said: “Tennis is as close as it gets to being a ‘cradle-to-grave’ game, with all the lifelong health benefits that brings.
“We have players aged three to 83, with 100 kids and a thriving veterans’ group.
"Olivia has shown what can be achieved and we have more teenagers joining the Lancashire squads this year.
“Our club teams won junior and senior Bolton League titles and cups at all levels last year, but perhaps the most satisfying success was that of the under-eights team, where three players who first picked up a racket after joining the LTA’s [Lawn Tennis Association] free ‘Tennis 4 Kids’ programme won their division.
“Along with our successful Easter, summer and October camps and local school sessions, this programme is a great way for kids to try the game.”
Holcombe’s coaching team has recently been strengthened by the appointment of Rick Whalley, whose experience and enthusiasm is increasing participation among adult beginners, intermediate and team-standard players, with specially-designed programmes for all levels.
All sessions are open to non-members, there are pay-and-play options as well and the club is well supported by the LTA, whose regional participation development manager, Sam Foakes, said: “The LTA’s vision is to make the sport relevant, accessible, welcoming and enjoyable.
"Holcombe Brook works closely with the Bury Community Tennis Network, creating opportunities to make tennis accessible at its venue and we fully support its initiatives.”