Interview: Steph Cornish

Steph Cornish is the No.3 ranked female junior in the country. I caught up with Steph to ask her a few questions about her tennis, and how she thinks British tennis is developing as a whole.

Q. Your the third ranked junior in the country, could you give me a brief description of your training regime?
A. I train from about 8.30 am to around 5pm Monday to Saturday and sometimes on Sundays. I play two 2 hour sessions of tennis and one or two fitness sessions each day. Obviously it changes if I have a tournament etc.

Q. Do you think you have got what it takes to break into the top ranks of womens tennis?
A. Yes. It’s tough to get good results consistently at the top end of the game, but it’s encouraging to see the older British women doing a bit better and nearing the top hundred so there’s no reason why I can’t do well.

Q. It’s been a long time since Britain had a woman at the top end of the game. What do you think the reasons are for British tennis not being able to achieve the results that a similar sized nation like France seem able to produce regularly?
A. I think there has always been a pretty negative attitude towards tennis in Britain, especially in the women’s side, and the press etc. have been too quick to criticize anything. Plus the LTA keep changing their plans and their staff and nothing has really stuck for long enough to produce results. It could be fair to say that in the past we haven’t trained hard enough or we don’t want it enough, but the new National training centre has provided a more professional environment and hopefully results will follow.

Q. Do you think your training and coaching matches up to what juniors from other nations are recieving?
A. Yes the facilities and coaching are just as good if not better than any other nation, and the players are all working hard to improve. I don’t think there is a massive issue in terms of effort during training. Since the press has been slating the players for lack of desire and being spoiled, everyone has definately started putting in that extra bit of effort so it shouldn’t be long before we have a woman in the top hundred.

Q. Lastly, do you agree with the LTA’s policy of bringing in outside coaches, like Brad Gilbert and Paul Annacone? Is their experience worth the price the LTA have to pay? Paul Annacone and Brad Gilbert have so much experience and it can only benefit the players they are working with. The guys all have a lot of respect for them which makes them want to do better so yes I think it is worth it.