A FARNHAM teenager is hoping to become the next British tennis ace, after being accepted into two renowned sports academies.

Talented Lewis Fletcher, 17, (pictured above) is profoundly deaf, but through his hard work and skills he has overcome his difficulties to be accepted by Professional Tennis Registry, based near Watford, and the Sutton Tennis Centre.

Lewis is yet to decide which place to take up, but both offer intensive training programmes in preparation for the Deaf Olympics to be held in Australia in 2005.

After representing Great Britain and winning a silver award at this years Dress and Maare Cup in Austria - a contest for deaf players - Lewis has been ranked fifth in the UK Deaf Team and 37th in the tennis world's deaf community.

His mother, Sue Fletcher, said that she is "absolutely delighted" with the offer of places at the academies and is now hoping to find sponsors to help the family foot the high costs of the training.

She explained that the cost for one year is expected to come to more than £10,000.

Sue said: "Lewis is very ambitious. Ultimately, he wants to be selected for the Deaf Olympics in Australia. His long term ambition is to be number one for Great Britain for the deaf. We are so proud of his achievements and want to help him fulfil his potential."

As a latecomer to the sport Lewis has made incredible progress. He started playing at Brightwells Tennis Club at the age of 14 and has gone on to coach disabled and able-bodied young people in Farnham. Sue explained that last year her son had coached at Wimbledon Park for the National Deaf Childrens' Society.

Lewis has also achieved academic success. A former pupil of Heath End School, he has gone on to attend Farnham Sixth Form College to study Leisure and Tourism and to pass a Sport For Life Programme and Distance Learning Course through Hammersmith College.

Anyone who might sponsor Lewis can contact the family on 01252 719521.