Alicia Barnett player profile | LTA (original) (raw)

Quick-fire facts

• Place of Birth: Gloucestershire
• Lives: Gloucestershire
• Trains: Team Bath
• Coach: Ian MacDonald (aka Macca)
• LTA Mentors: Craig Veal, Claire Curran
• Nickname: Lissey
• Started playing at: Painswick Lawn Tennis Club
• Primary school: The Croft Primary School, Painswick
• Secondary school: Stroud High School for Girls
• University: Northwestern University, Illinois

Tennis beginnings

Lissey started playing tennis at the age of seven at Painswick Lawn Tennis Centre - just five minutes from her house.

She was involved in a lot of sports growing up, including football, athletics and hockey, but started taking tennis more seriously at 14 playing more tournaments on the weekends and during school holidays.

At 16 she accessed Team Bath through the AASE programme, before heading off to Northwestern University in the States.

Most important people on her tennis journey

First and foremost her family. Lissey says they are incredibly supportive and always track her games wherever she's playing.

Lorraine Ristic, who was Lissey's first coach and close family friend, and still a big part of her journey.

Her college coaches, Claire Pollard and Jackie Holden who have been there for Lissey during some really tough times.

Last but definitely not least, her current coach at Bath, Macca, who is an instrumental part of her tennis. And in general, the whole team at Bath with Henry (S&C), Lambo (sport psych), and Katie and Adam (physios).