Leon Smith (tennis coach)
Encyclopedia
Leon Smith is a Scottish
tennis
coach. Smith is captain of the Great Britain Davis Cup team
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
's Head of Men’s Tennis.
two years later, where he helped to set up and run a performance academy. He rejoined Tennis Scotland as LTA academy coach, and became national training coach for Scotland in 2004.
Smith has coached several Scottish junior players, most notably Andy Murray. Smith worked with Murray from the age of 11; Murray won the Orange Bowl
under-12 title, five international men's ITF Futures events and earned his first Davis Cup call-up while working with Smith. Smith and Murray have remained friends, and Smith temporarily assisted Murray at the French Open in 2006 while Murray was between coaches.
Smith became the LTA's national under-16s men's coach in 2005 and the under-18s coach in 2008. He was later appointed Head of Player Development in Men's Tennis, and promoted to Head of Men's Tennis simultaneously to his appointment as Davis Cup captain.
, held at Eastbourne
from July 9, 2010, which Great Britain won 5-0.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
coach. Smith is captain of the Great Britain Davis Cup team
Great Britain Davis Cup team
The Great Britain Davis Cup team represents the United Kingdom in Davis Cup tennis competition and is controlled by the Lawn Tennis Association. The United Kingdom played in the very first International Lawn Tennis Challenge...
, and the Lawn Tennis Association
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
's Head of Men’s Tennis.
Career
Smith began coaching professionally at club level aged 18. He has focused on elite players since 1998, and became national performance officer for Tennis Scotland that year. He joined the Next Generation club in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
two years later, where he helped to set up and run a performance academy. He rejoined Tennis Scotland as LTA academy coach, and became national training coach for Scotland in 2004.
Smith has coached several Scottish junior players, most notably Andy Murray. Smith worked with Murray from the age of 11; Murray won the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl (tennis)
The Orange Bowl is an annual college football bowl game. Orange Bowl may also refer to:* Miami Orange Bowl, a demolished stadium formerly in Miami, Florida* One of two tennis tournaments, one for juniors and the other for youth...
under-12 title, five international men's ITF Futures events and earned his first Davis Cup call-up while working with Smith. Smith and Murray have remained friends, and Smith temporarily assisted Murray at the French Open in 2006 while Murray was between coaches.
Smith became the LTA's national under-16s men's coach in 2005 and the under-18s coach in 2008. He was later appointed Head of Player Development in Men's Tennis, and promoted to Head of Men's Tennis simultaneously to his appointment as Davis Cup captain.
Davis Cup captaincy
Smith's appointment as Davis Cup captain was announced by the LTA on 12 April 2010. His appointment at age 34 made him the youngest Great Britain captain since Paul Hutchins (appointed in 1975 aged 30), and one of the few to be appointed without having been a top-level player. His first tie as captain was a Europe/Africa Zone Group II match against TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, held at Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
from July 9, 2010, which Great Britain won 5-0.