Records. This is the most appropriate way to describe the year 2022 at the Vilnius Tennis Academy (VTA) in one word - from the increased number of students and coaches to the number of participated tournaments and organized projects. As we approach 2023, we review the most memorable events and work done by VTA in the past year.
During the year, the number of VTA students jumped to new heights - increased by even a hundred: the new 2022-2023 year. 701 children started the season under the roof of the expanded "SEB Arena" in September, with an almost identical balance of boys and girls.
Similarly, the circle of coaches reached a record number - the academy currently employs 33 tennis coaches, 2 physical fitness specialists and 2 physiotherapists. The professional team consists of coaches not only from Lithuania, but also from Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Belarus, and the Greek consultant of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Nicolas Kelaidis constantly shares his knowledge with them.
In addition, two coaches of the academy currently work in the staffs of Lithuanian national teams: they hold the positions of captain of the women's national team and assistant captain of the men's national team.
Young tennis players can choose from three training programs at the academy: general and sports training and PRO. All of them are integrated: not only tennis, but also physical training. Training for 4-7 year olds is also held on the new mini tennis courts. for children of all ages, in addition, parents can register children of various ages for Saturday school.
VTA students who chose the sports path participated in 71 tournaments last year: 37 in Lithuania and 34 abroad. The list of visited countries includes as many as 16 countries: Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Latvija, Poland, Estonia, Italy, Greece, Georgia, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Finland, England and Australia. The majority of these trips were financed by the "Sustainable Initiatives Support Fund" established by "Darnu Group".
Many resounding victories were won in these tournaments.
The 2022 Lithuanian champions were academy students Patricija Paukštytė, Patricija Cechanavičiūtė, Iveta Oganauskaitė, Liepa Galvelytė and Markas Griaziutin Tverskoj and coach Aleksas Tverijonas.
P. Paukštytė also won two ITF W15 doubles tournaments and reached the finals twice more, and in the ITF Juniors competition, she won the doubles tournament once and played the decisive match five times.
M. Giaziutin Tverskoj won as many as five U12 doubles tournaments abroad and once triumphed in the singles competition and reached the doubles final of the Vilnius tennis academy Cup 2022, Pijus Reklevičius won the doubles cup in the ITF Juniors tournament and played in the Tennis Europe U16 doubles final, and Viltė Vaitkevičiūtė competed in the "Tennis Europe U16" doubles final match in Ireland.
In the U14 age group, Lukas Dudonis played in the finals of the "Tennis Space Academy Cup 2022" doubles tournament, while the Ukrainian Alina Kornieva, who sports VTA, won one of the two singles finals and once triumphed in the doubles tournament.
"I am happy with the work we have done, but at the same time I believe that by working as a team, we can achieve even better results together," said the head of VTA. coach Edita Liachovičiūtė. - I also really want to single out the coaches of the academy and their constant desire to improve and deepen their knowledge - this year, a significant number of them successfully participated in courses of a higher coaching category."
Also last year, 30 VTA students graduated from the "Ball Kids School" program, which opened up opportunities to become a part of major tennis events - they served balls to capable players from all over the world, both at the ITF World Tennis M25 and the Davis Cup, as well as at the historic ATP "Challenger 80". in the tournament.
In the summer, tennis camps were organized for academy members in Vilnius, Druskininkai and Rhodes Island, Greece, and a Tennis Festival was held for the first time - On the Cathedral Square more than 500 people visited to watch training or try this sport themselves. It is financed by the funds of the Sports Sponsorship Fund event will take place next year as well.
