What it means to Win the County Cup Race 2026: Monica Becerra

Monica Becerra, Performance Coach at Gosling High Performance Tennis Centre, and long time County Cup Captain, reflects on an amazing year for Middlesex Tennis.

We were delighted to chat with Monica following final result of the 12U County Cup match and announcement that Middlesex had been crowned County Cup Race Champions 2026.

The Interview in full

Interviewer: Great results last weekend for the under-12s. That tipped us over the edge, literally and metaphorically speaking! It’s a huge achievement to win the County Cup Race, which we last won it in 2020.

Were you already a county coach at that point?

Monica: Oh yes.

Interviewer: Have you been a county coach for a long time?

Monica: Oh yes. I’m trying to think how many years I’ve been doing it, but it’s got to be 25 or more.

Interviewer: Really? And have you received a gold clock yet?

Monica: No, not yet. Eventually, I think I will.

Interviewer: Wow, that’s amazing. And have you always been at Gosling High Performance Tennis Centre?

Monica: No. I used to play and coach at Riverside Chiswick. We had a performance programme there. Having set up a scholarship programme at Riverside Chiswick way back, so we’ve been through a lot of players. We used to have a lot of Middlesex players there, as well as Surrey players, who we trained. Eventually, I left Riverside Chiswick and came up here to Gosling in about 2005, I think it was.

Interviewer: Okay, so you’ve done a good stint there as well.

Monica: That’s all right. I was at Chiswick for 17 years, and I’ve been here now for 21.

Interviewer: Wow, hats off to you!

What winning the County Cup Race means

Interviewer: In terms of the County Cup Race, what does it mean to you and the team to have won the title?

Monica: It’s quite interesting because originally, when they set up the County Cup Race, it was based on funding. The LTA used to give funding based on how well the counties did, so it had a financial connotation.

When we first started doing it, it was all about doing well so that the county could get more funding for the players, which we needed back then.

It was quite prestigious to win because there was also financial backing.

Then, at some point, they changed the system. For quite a few years, we didn’t even really know it was still going on. And then they resurrected it somehow.

Now, the kudos of winning it, especially with the rivalry with a couple of counties, makes it quite fun. You’re trying to put something in the pot each time so that we do well.

We’ve always finished first, second or third since it was resurrected. There’s the kudos of doing better than a couple of the other counties each time.

Interviewer: Exactly. I know there’s a feeling of “Anything to beat Surrey!”

Monica: Well, it is. I think we just have to be careful that we’re not too hung up on that, because it adds another pressure when you’re trying to perform on the day.

You want to win the trophy for the Under 12s, Under 11s or Under-10s, as I do.

Interviewer: Absolutely. That was one of my questions. From your point of view, did you think we were going to be silver medallists again, or did you believe we had enough good players and results to win?

Monica: I think we have amazing players. Last year, I nearly did the treble.

I coach the Under 10s, Under 11s and Under 12s. Unfortunately, we lost in a shoot-out in the Under 10s, which is the maximum you can take a match to. But we won the Under 11s and Under 12s in the girls’ competition.

We were so close to winning the Under 12s this year. In fact, we’ve been runners-up in all of them this year, which is quite rare. Most years, we’ll win at least one of the titles.

I always go in thinking we have a great chance. Not only that, but the County Cup creates an environment where anything is possible.

Players who perhaps aren’t at the top national level can suddenly be put up against someone who gets a little nervous. There’s a possibility that, because you’re playing for your county, you go all out and take a big scalp.

Interviewer: Yes. And the atmosphere at the weekend must have been great.

Monica: Oh, it’s always great. I love doing this. Team events and county competitions are probably my favourite things to do. That’s why I do so much of it.

Creating a fantastic team experience

Interviewer: It shows in your photos and everything. The teams look as though they’re really enjoying themselves. I think that’s a big thing, because they’re also disappointed when they’re defeated. I’ve seen some of the tears after the County Championships.

Monica: My philosophy with the county competitions is to give the kids a fantastic experience of representing their county, so that they want to be part of it for the long term.

I’m quite lucky with the younger ones because they get really involved. As they get older, they become busier, particularly when they’re good, and it gets harder to get them all out for the older events.

But I reckon that if they’ve had a good grounding in the younger age groups, it will stick with them for life. They’ll always have great memories.

With the girls, we try to create extra fun things. For example, this time we took them to the cinema, and we now have a bubble tea tradition where we all go and have bubble tea on the middle day.

We’ve also been bowling and held little competitions among ourselves. It’s all about creating a vibe where we’re together and having fun.

It’s also about bringing in the parents. For the Under 10s and Under 11s, the parents come with us. We try to create a real family atmosphere, where everyone eats together and everyone is involved.

This particular Under 12 group has been amazing. I’ve had them for about four years now, and they’ve been an absolute joy to work with, both the parents and the children.

Interviewer: That was one of my questions. What impressed you most about the way the girls performed as a team, and how they supported and encouraged each other throughout the competition?

Monica: The team spirit was incredible. Sahara, who is our number one, is often busy playing international tennis. She was desperate to come. She was already arranging to share a room with Amelia and everything!

They were all so excited about coming. For me, that’s a huge boost. It makes life a lot easier when they all really want to be there.

Our team spirit and bonding were amazing. I think we’ve helped create that over the years.

The role of a county captain

Interviewer: As captain, what was your role off court as well as on court?

Monica: It’s all the extracurricular stuff! Keeping them happy and buoyant when they’ve lost, entertaining them and giving them some fun downtime, so that everything isn’t wrapped up in the pressure of the tennis.

It’s about creating a fun environment.

Interviewer: Fantastic. And what about the other coaches, parents and everyone who supported the teams? I imagine you’re very grateful for their support.

Monica: Well, it all starts back in the office, doesn’t it? If we don’t have help from Ali and everyone who helps us with all the bookings, getting everything organised and making sure we get our kit, it would be difficult.

Knowing we have a team behind us is invaluable.

The parents are on board too, but we do a lot of hard work to make sure we keep them happy and buoyant about their children. There are lots of extra phone calls they make to me as county captain, asking for help with other things.

You create an open-door policy for them, and then they give back.

All the parents were great supporters on the last day, when it rained. We were told that parents couldn’t come into the bubble because it would be too busy. I went and negotiated for one parent per child, because they were desperate to come and watch.

They like being part of it. It can get noisy because, in tennis, we don’t often get the chance to do that. They can shout and cheer for their children and the county. We have the flag, and we wave that around a lot!

Interviewer: I’m going to get you a new flag! I’m going to get you a new one with the new branding, so you’ll be flying the flag again.

Monica: That would be great. I’d love that!

We have a bit of banter with Essex because their flag doesn’t have a crown. It’s the same flag, but they only have the swords, whereas we have the crown as well.

What this victory means for the players’ futures

Interviewer: My last couple of questions. What does this victory mean for the future of these young Middlesex players? We have that pathway in place, so hopefully we’ll see them progressing through it.

Monica: To be honest, it’s an accolade they’re picking up on their way to greater things.

For some of them, it may be the biggest competition they play in. For others, they’re on their way to international tennis and beyond.

I think this is just part of their journey. Hopefully, it helps them fall in love with tennis and want to continue playing in the future.

Some of the girls I’ve coached in previous county teams are now playing in the Over 35s team and so on. Hopefully, these players will stay in tennis for life and will want to represent Middlesex forever.

Interviewer: Absolutely. That’s fantastic.

And finally, if you had to describe this team and this historic win in just three words, what would they be?

Monica: Fun, inspiring and enthusiastic.