Lucy Foyster recently completed an outstanding 2025 season with her first ITF Junior Series singles title in Montesilvano, Italy.
At 12 years of age, Lucy is at a career-high World No. 8 and by far the youngest player in the Top 10 of the ITF Cruyff Junior Girls’ Rankings. In August, she lifted silverware at the national finals of Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, run in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club.
Lucy was seven years old when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in February 2021 and this year created the BCRT Lucy’s Big Dream Fund, raising vital funds for life-saving research.
Follow Lucy’s Tennis Journey On Instagram
Earlier this week, Lucy spoke to Norfolk Tennis and her mother, Helga, was first asked about the special fund of the Bone Cancer Research Trust.
Tell us about your BCRT Lucy's Big Dream fund to assist your tennis career?
Lucy’s big dream is a way for me to tell my story and hopefully inspire others. We need more players in the disability categories and there are so many. Bone Cancer is really rare and research isn't funded by the government. All the money raised goes straight to the charity to help find kinder cures and treatments.
Lucy, what do you believe has been your biggest improvement in 2026?
I've gained more experience in match play, improved stamina with my strength and conditioning training and my serve is definitely better.
How do you approach the mental side of the sport? How do you deal with nerves in big-moment situations?
I am lucky to have support from TASS at the UEA [in Norwich] and this includes sport psychology. I use 'choice point' to focus and move on. Slowing things down with a deep breath also helps.
Who do you look up to as a big influence in your development from the tennis world?
Obviously, Alfie Hewett because he encouraged me to try the sport, but Lucy Shulker, who calls me little ‘Luce’, and people who train with her also train me, which is great. I couldn't do any of this without my coach Neil Plaskett at Easton Tennis Centre, my sessions are more frequent now.
What have you learnt in 2025 from not just national, but also being involved in international tournaments?
Be organised. My mum helps a lot with food, sleep, training, arriving on time, booking warmups. There are so many things off court that help me when I'm on court.
Tell us about your Play Your Way To Wimbledon experience and the confidence it's brought you?
It was the most wonderful two days at Wimbledon, the sun was shining and I played really well, winning all my matches against UK women. It feels like I've arrived in tennis now that I've played at Wimbledon and I love it! We had a tour and it’s great to see Wimbledon without all the crowds and get to spend my prize money at the Wimbledon shop.
What did it feel like when you broke into the ITF Top 10 for the first time?
I set this as a goal at the beginning of the year. All my first rounds for seven tournaments I drew the same girl, an experienced player from America, also called Lucy; I got knocked out each time. But then I started winning first rounds and believing it was possible. When I tell people I’m Top 10 they say, ‘In in UK?’ and I say, ‘No, in the world!’
You have a training camp in the US next month. How did you get selected/invited for that? What are you most looking forward to?
I dropped out of the Top 10 ranking just as the selection was happening so I was really disappointed that I didn't get the wild card. Then Mum got a phone call from the National Coach to say that a place had become available. I was on court training so she rushed down to give me the news. I thought I might cry, but we carried on training! I'm looking forward to meeting and training with Diede de Groot, when I did the coin toss at Wimbledon in 2024, she was the winner. And it will be warmer weather too.
What is your goal(s) for 2026?
Keep well, keep training hard and hopefully make some of the junior grand slams.