Tennis was showcased to more than 10,000 students last weekend as the Tennis Foundation was invited for the first time to take part in Students Live, the UK's biggest students' event held at Olympia.
The event gives freshers the chance to find out more about travel, lifestyle and technology products, to support them through their forthcoming life as a student.
At the British Tennis stand, students had the opportunity of testing their speed of serve and signing up to allplay, the LTA's national campaign to help people play tennis.
They were also given information about the higher education tennis programmes available at many British universities. There are now 26 universities with a University Tennis Coordinator and there are opportunities at all universities to get involved with tennis as a player, coach or volunteer.
Amongst those trying their skills were Hollyoaks actors James Atherton and Holly Weston (pictured below), with James scoring a top speed of 85mph. Amongst the students, a top serve of 103mph was reached by one keen tennis player.
Tom Gibbins, Head of Education at The Tennis Foundation, said: "This was a great opportunity for us to help more students play tennis, by promoting the opportunities available at university. We've significantly increased our investment into the sector, supporting 38 universities with their programmes last year, with that set to grow further in 2012 - 13."
The Tennis Foundation and LTA support universities through three main programmes; Performance Programme Support, University Tennis Coordinators and Development Awards. Universities can currently apply for a Development Award, to help them develop their tennis programme.
Find out more about the opportunities to play tennis at university and our wider support programme for the Higher Education sector.
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