Veteran Spanish coach in Scottish sessions

Jose Higueras has coached Roger Federer and other tennis greats and is now passing on his knowledge to some of the most promising young players in Britain.

The Spaniard, who has coached the likes of Michael Chang, Jim Courier and Pete Sampras, is spending this week working with the eight schoolchildren based at the GB National Tennis Academy at Stirling University.

The centre is one of two bases set up by the Lawn Tennis Association last summer to provide top-class coaching to young players.

Eight children aged 12-16 from across Britain combine their tennis development with their education at Dollar Academy in

“You never know how you can run until you invest”

a programme run by Tennis Scotland.

Higueras, himself a former world top-10 player and French Open semi-finalist, said: “I try to show them what it takes to be a good tennis player with the discipline and the passion and engagement it takes on a daily basis.

“That’s one thing you see in general with a lot of players and kids, there is not enough continuity with that engagement and effort on a daily basis.

“It counts a lot more to do something when you don’t feel like doing it than doing something when you feel great.

“You never know how you can run until you invest yourself 100% in it.”

He continued: “If you do everything right, your chances of becoming a great tennis player are not good.

“But they are not good for anybody because of the level of skill and how difficult it is.”