A TALENTED junior tennis player from Waltham Abbey has been retained on the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) AEGON FutureStars Programme for a second consecutive year.

Sam Price is one of 375 youngsters on the programme which recognises and supports some of the best juniors in the country.

Price, who trains at the Connaught Club in Chingford, will join top juniors from around the country who all receive varying levels of support and funding for their coaching programmes from the LTA.

After another successful year on court, the 14-year-old was named as part of the 2011 intake of players after first being awarded a place on the AEGON FutureStars programme in 2010.

Steven Martens, Player Director of the LTA, said: “It’s an exciting time for British tennis with so many promising young players coming through the junior ranks.

“We recognise that it’s a long journey for players who develop through the player pathway. It’s therefore very important we continue to provide the necessary support and the AEGON FutureStars programme is central to this process.

“Identifying talent from a young age is crucial for player development but also for the future success of the sport. The new 2011 intake of players showcases a wealth of talent across different age groups and we hope that all of the AEGON FutureStars will go on to reach their full potential through the support we provide.”

Elena Baltacha, Britain’s number one women’s player and a member of Team AEGON, the elite squad of performance players commented: “It’s really important that players get the right level of support from a young age so they can develop their skills and grow as tennis players. That’s why the AEGON FutureStars programme plays such a big role in nurturing talented young players. I’ll be keeping an eye on all our AEGON FutureStars and I wish them all the best.”