AN ENFIELD youngster has earned a place on the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) AEGON FutureStars Programme.

The programme recognises and supports 375 of the best juniors in the country who all receive varying levels of support and funding for their coaching programmes from the LTA.

Roberto Preka, 11, currently trains at the Islington Tennis Centre.

Steven Martens, player director of the LTA, said: “It’s an exciting time for British tennis with so many promising young players coming through the junior ranks.

“We recognise that it’s a long journey for players who develop through the player pathway. It’s therefore very important we continue to provide the necessary support and the AEGON FutureStars programme is central to this process.

“Identifying talent from a young age is crucial for player development but also for the future success of the sport. The new 2011 intake of players showcases a wealth of talent across different age groups and we hope that all of the AEGON FutureStars will go on to reach their full potential through the support we provide.”

Enfield-based Elena Baltacha, Britain’s number one women’s player and a member of Team AEGON, the elite squad of performance players, commented: “It’s really important that players get the right level of support from a young age so they can develop their skills and grow as tennis players."

To find out where your nearest court is, visit www.lta.org.uk/playtennis