British Wimbledon tennis stars getting valuable data insights from MDX students

Two Middlesex University students have been on placement with the LTA helping top players and coaches at major tournaments including Wimbledon

With Wimbledon in full swing, two students on the MSc Sport Performance Analysis course at Middlesex University helped British tennis players at the tournament with crucial data insights about their opponents.

Will Rousham and Danny Anderson have been on a unique placement with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) as part of their course which has included working at the world famous annual tennis competition which runs until this Sunday July 13th.

Through the studentship with the national governing body for British tennis, they have worked alongside top professional coaches and players, as well as expert data analysts.

Both Will and Danny have been regularly using vital industry data applications such as Dartfish and PowerBI to collect and visualise data respectively which they can then share with professional players to help them get the edge over their opponents.

“I have learnt the detail that goes into pre-match preparation for elite tennis players, as well as the necessity to plan one or two rounds ahead of time,” said Danny, who is studying on campus and from St Albans. 

“It has made me watch tennis in a different way and look out for the key stats which separates the men and women at the top of the game. Having the opportunity to be in the player lounge at the Nottingham Open showed me how live feedback can help players gain that extra 1%.”

A personal highlight for Danny was meeting British tennis player Katie Boulter, while he has also had the opportunity to work with the pathway teams looking for the next Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie or Jack Draper at a tournament in Sunderland. He said the course has helped him upskill and gained essential skills with data software.

Meeting Leon Smith, the Great Britain Davis Cup captain, was a particular highlight for fellow MDX student Will.

“Throughout the year I have spent with the LTA, I believe that this placement has not only provided me with the knowledge and skillset needed to progress my career in the sports performance analysis sector, but it has provided me with the hands-on experience required for work life beyond the placement,” said Will, who is originally from Cheshire and on the Distance Learning option.

British tennis stars such as Jack Draper (world no.4), Jacob Fearnley and Billy Harris have been provided with data insights about their opponents from Will at tournaments such as Queens, Eastbourne and Wimbledon.

Describing it as a valuable live experience, Will also sat alongside the coaching teams of British players of Billy Harris and Johannus Monday during games. And he supported pathway coaches at an under 14s tournament by capturing and uploading footage.

Dr Nimai Parmar, Director of Postgraduate Sport Programmes (Interim) and Associate Professor in Sport Performance Analysis, said: “I am grateful for the LTA’s long-standing commitment to developing the next generation of performance analysts in collaboration with us at Middlesex University. For five years our students have learnt from world class analysts in a high-performance environment, whilst supporting top British players. As a result of this they secure full-time jobs soon after within the LTA and at top sporting organisations which is a testament to how well these collaborations work”.

Toby West, Performance Analyst from the LTA (women’s program), said:

"This unique placement programme offers students an immersive and practical experience, mentored by industry-leading performance analysts. Working with some of the top tennis players and coaches in Britain, students apply their academic learning in a high-performance environment, developing the core technical and analytical skills essential to build a career in performance analysis.

 “Working across multiple teams, the students gain exposure to the demands of elite sport and are empowered to contribute to meaningful, real-world projects. From video analysis to data interpretation, students become proficient in using the specialist software and workflows that drive high-level decision making in sport.

“Through tailored mentoring and day-to-day involvement in the department’s work, students gain the confidence and capability to operate in a front-facing analyst role. By the end of the placement, they leave with not just improved technical expertise, but with the communication, problem-solving, and collaborative skills that set them up for success in the professional world of sport performance analysis."

Find out more about the MSc Sport Performance Analysis course at Middlesex University and the Distance Learning option.

Photo of Wimbledon centre court by Carlo Bazzo on Unsplash