Three junior players from Lanark Tennis Club are making headlines this summer after a string of standout performances at competitions across Scotland and beyond. Jessica and Emily Hoey, alongside Andrew McCallum, have all shown exceptional talent and determination highlighting the growing strength of the club’s junior section.

Jessica Hoey: A Summer to Remember

In July, Jessica Hoey delivered a brilliant performance at the Ayrshire Open (Grade 3), winning silver in the singles and gold in the doubles, including a straight-sets victory over the Scottish number one in the singles semi-final—and again in the doubles final. Across just two days, she spent over 10 hours on court, showing impressive grit and stamina.

Jessica’s winning form continued into August at the Chatsworth Festival of Tennis in England, where she secured her first singles and doubles titles outside Scotland. Her consistent results have pushed her up the rankings, and her recent has seen her break into the top 5 in Scotland in the 11U girls’ category.

Her mum reflected on the summer’s success:

“Jessica has spent a lot of time supporting Emily’s success, so it’s lovely to see her have such a brilliant run this summer. We travel to clubs across the country, and while many have more established training programmes, none have the family feel of Lanark. The girls are very lucky to have the club’s support behind them.”

Emily Hoey: Gold and Grit

Not to be outdone by her older sister, Emily Hoey has had a golden summer of her own. In July, she won the 9U Girls South of Scotland Open in Dumfries, and followed it up with a doubles gold at Chatsworth, partnering with her friend Rory. Emily continues to be a fierce competitor and a rising star within her age group.

Also enjoying a standout season is Andrew McCallum, who has shown great progress in the 16U and 18U boys’ categories. This year, Andrew won two Scotland Tour events the 18U at Kirkhill and the 16U at Dalgety Bay. He also finished as runner-up in both the 18U at Hillhead and another 16U event at Dalgety Bay.

Andrew, who started playing tennis at age 7 and won his first tournament in 2019, says his proudest moment was winning the 14U event at Barnton last year - his first ever Scotland Tour title.

While balancing training, tournaments, and school life has sometimes been challenging, Andrew remains focused on improving his game, particularly his consistency and athleticism, something he credits the coaching team at Lanark for helping him develop. He also enjoys the social side of the sport, saying the atmosphere at competitions is what he enjoys most, and he loves spending time on court at Lanark with his friends. His favourite player? Jack Draper.

Lanark Tennis Club is proud to support a thriving junior programme that not only develops tennis skills but also nurtures confidence, resilience, and teamwork. The achievements of Jessica, Emily and Andrew are a testament to the hard work they’ve put in, supported by their families, coaches, and the vibrant club community.

With results like these, the future of tennis in Lanark looks very bright indeed. 🎾