STA’s Nathan Rooney is settling into his new role of Head Coach at the Academy.

Nathan took over the position in January after joining STA as Senior Coach in July 2011. Since then he has played a pivotal role in the development of players and the Academy itself.

STA Director Dan Kiernan says it has been a smooth transition: “Nathan is a great addition to the Management team here at STA. He has been a massive part of STA almost from the start of the Academy. His personal skills and enthusiasm will be vital in our pursuit of excellence. We are excited to be working together in 2013 and beyond."

Nathan who is originally from Birmingham, England has a wealth of experience, having travelled the world to tournaments as a player on the ATP tour and then as a coach. He is currently in Oman with a group of STA players for two Junior ITF events, his first tournament trip of the year.

He will return to base camp this week managing day-to-day operations at the Academy. “It’s been very exciting starting 2013 as Head Coach at STA” Nathan said. “I am very much looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead with ensuring that all players and coaches at STA maximise their time here by working together in our quest to enhance learning and development on a daily basis.’’

Read more about Nathan and other STA staff here  .

STA Access players Jonny Marray and Freddie Nielsen are through to the semi-finals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The Wimbledon Champions are the first to go through to the last four in either the singles or doubles, with a match still to play in Group A.

Jonny and Freddie took out the defending champions and world number 2 pair Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi on Wednesday night at the O2 Arena, saving a match point in the 3rd set tie-break, to win 7-6, 4-6, 12-10.

The score was almost identical to their first win on Tuesday against the 5th seeds from India, Mahesh Buphathi and Rohan Bopanna. Again, Jonny and Freddie saved match points in an exciting 3rd set tie-break to win 6-4, 6-7, 12-10.

This is Jonny and Freddie's first appearance at the ATP Tour Finals following their dream run to the Wimbledon title in July. They are now ranked world doubles number 20 and 23 respectfully.

SotoTennis Academy has been taking over Morocco this month. We have had ITF Juniors and Futures teams playing events around the country throughout October.

SotoTennis has the advantage of being located just a 45 minute boat ride away from Tanjier in Morocco making the journey's easy for the teams.

STA coach Joe Dixon took full-time players Alex Stiteler, Peter Bothwell & Sam Bayda to Grade 4 events in Mohamedia and Rabat. Alex was top seed both weeks reaching the semi-final of the Girls Singles in Mohammedia. Her ITF junior ranking has risen 19 places in the last week to 206. Sam and Peter also made the semi-final of the boys doubles the same week losing to 2nd seeds Victor Durasovic from Norway and Portugal's Rodolfo Pereira..

STA Head Coach Dan Kiernan arrived in Morocco last Thursday with our Futures squad of Josh-Ward Hibbert and Mikey Suleau. The two teams were able to meet up in Casablanca before Josh and Mikey began the Futures event in Casablanca. Josh qualified at the weekend and made it through to the 2nd round of the main draw losing 6-3 6-4 in two hours to Germany's Steven Moneke. Josh and Mikey are also through to the semi-finals of the doubles which they play on Thursday after taking out 3rd seeds Steven Moneke and Marc Sieber from Germany in the first round and getting a walkover in the quarter-final.
 
Dan says says the Morocco trips are providing some great experience for our players: " It's ideal for STA - cheap travel, expenses and 35 degree heat in October lead to highly competitive experiences on the clay all year round for our players, as with at base camp.

"The development that takes place on the clay cannot be matched on other court surfaces. I have been hugely impressed with our younger guys and it was nice to join together for a few days this weekend. Development is taking place and that is our sole aim."

Keep up-to-date with how Josh and Mikey are getting on, and see more photos from both trips to Morocco on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

STA's Josh Ward-Hibbert lost a heartbreaking quarter-final in the Boys Doubles at the US Open on Wednesday.

Josh and partner Evan Hoyt won their 2nd round match on Wednsday morniing after rain forced tournament organisers to move the junior matches indoors in New York. They knocked out the 7th seeds from Brazil Gabriel Freidrich and Thiago Monterio 7-6, 6-3.

Another tie-break decided their quarter-final result on Wednesday evening. Josh and Evan took the lead against Yoshihito Nishioka and Jorge Brian Panta Herreros from Peru, winning the 1st set 6-2, but lost the 2nd 6-3, with the match going into a Championship tie-break for the 3rd set. Despite having 2 match points, Josh and Evan were beaten 12-10.

Josh who was seeded 12th in the boys singles, then took on Yoshihito Nishioka again in the 2nd round, losing 6-2, 1-6, 2-6.

STA Head Coach Dan Kiernan who was in New York with Josh said he had gained vital experience "Josh showed himself that his level is there with the best juniors in the world. The next step is to make that level his 'norm'.

"On to the next day now, and the start of his transition into the senior game."

See all the photos from Flushing Meadows on our Facebook andTwitter pages.

Photo: Josh with STA Head Coach Dan Kiernan

STA's Josh Ward-Hibbert is through to the second round of the US Open Juniors. The British number 1 beat 15-year-old Ku Keon Kang from Korea 6-4, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows.

Josh who is 12th seed this week tols us he enjoyed playing in front of the New York crowds: "First rounds are always tough but I put in a good performance and managed to come through it. I love it here, it's a great city. I'm happy to be here, you get great crowds out for each match, it's going to be an exciting tournament."

Josh will now face Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka who has an ATP ranking of 826, in the 2nd round.

He has also teamed up with fellow Brit Evan Hoyt for the Boys doubles. They will take on US pair Harrison Adams and Ronnie Schneider on Monday.

Get all the latest updates from the US Open on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Photo: Josh after his 1st round victory