In September 2012 the UEL/WIMX tennis program became only the eighth national performance university in Great Britain and the only one in the whole of the South East Region.
Just six months after joining this prestigious list made up of Bath, Loughborough, Durham, Leeds Met, Stirling Met and Cardiff, the new kid on the block claimed two national titles at the BUCS Individual championships. Anna Fitzpatrick currently ranked 769 on the world rankings, claimed the women's singles title defeating Coventry's Ana Bogdan (WTA 481) in the final 6-4, 6-2.
In the men's doubles, Johnny Parkes and Essex's own Marshall Tutu of UEL beat Joe Binding and Harel Sugo of Durham University in a gripping match tie break final which they took 11-9.
WimX Founder, Helen Crook says "It has always been an ambition of mine for the UK to have a degree program where it allows for the students to improve their tennis and genuinely compete on the pro tour simultaneously. The USA college system has been the only logical option for so long but if you are serious about rising up the ATP/WTA ranks then the USA route can actually be restrictive due to the need to remain an "amateur."
Anna who reached the Wimbledon girls semi-final back in 2007, felt she had to forgo her education at that point to pursue her tennis ambitions despite great GCSE and A-level results. If the UEL program had been in place then, it may have been a different story, but at least now she is able to combine the two perfectly due the flexible approach and support UEL provides.
UEL tennis has had to start at the bottom of the BUCS leagues and has four teams competing in the cups and leagues. All teams play their home matches at the WimX academy base at The Connaught Club in Chingford.
Richard Buscombe from UEL comments that "the partnership has been very effective as we can now provide a tennis offering for all levels of player at the university, benefit from a traditional club environment and play an an integral role in the sports science provision at the WimX academy."
Club manager Nicola Bastick says "it's great to have the teams here playing their BUCS matches and to see players like Anna at the club interacting with members and hitting with our younger players. it all fits together really well."
After WimX approaching UEL, the university's commitment to sport shone through and they quickly made tennis a focus sport, set up a scholarship program where the players can access tuition based funding, bursaries and training. The tuition fee scholarship, which Marshall and Anna both have benefitted form set the UEL program apart from the many other performance universities around the UK.
Crook adds, "It is very early days but we are excited about next year's players and the tennis and education performance pathway that is emerging. It is vital that British players have a chance to keep improving into their 20s rather than expecting to make it by 18 or having to sacrifice education in order to continue with their tennis ambitions.
Anyone interested in the UEL/WimX Pathway should email info@wimx.org.uk or call 07711 807177.
Pictured above: Anna Fitzpatrick