At the start of the 2024/25 season, Maciej Skowroński reached a career-high ranking of number two in the English Under-15 category. That put him among the best in the country for his age and set the stage for a year that has brought international selections, medals and experiences that will stay with him.
In February, Maciej was chosen to represent England at the Under-15 Eight Nations in Sweden. The event was held in Uppsala and is one of the hardest junior team tournaments in Europe. Only a small group of players are selected, and each has to compete in both individual and team matches against the best from across the continent. For Maciej, it was his first time travelling abroad representing England, a milestone that every young player works towards.
In May, he had another chance to represent his country. England sent a group of Under-15 players to Denmark, where they trained at the Gade Academy in Copenhagen before competing at the Danish Junior in Farum. The academy is run by Peter Gade, the former world number one who won the All England in 1999 and five European titles. Gade is remembered for his fast movement, clean strokes and deceptive style, and his academy is built on those qualities.
Maciej said, “The best part was the attention to detail. There were two coaches, one of them being Peter Gade, and each had a really great focus on every player”. He recalled a warm-up with tennis balls that felt very different. “It was unusual and I hadn’t seen it before. They did so many variations with tennis balls, all targeting coordination. The Danish players were visibly better than us at them, so I guess that is something to improve. I might start using some of those drills in my own training”.
When asked about the key takeaway, Maciej added, “It certainly helped build experience, which is very underrated, and it will help me be better in future high-pressure scenarios”. He also had a clear message for other juniors, “Don’t be intimidated by big names and reputations. Just train as hard as you would normally, not thinking about who is watching. Just because he was a great player doesn’t mean you should be scared of him”.
Soon after, another recognition came. Maciej was invited to the Under-15 England Junior Performance Pathway (EJPP) Camp in Nottingham on 19th July. Only ten boys across the country were included, which shows how highly he is viewed within the pathway. These camps are designed to sharpen both technical and mental aspects of the game and to prepare players for future international competitions.
His efforts have also been supported off court. He was awarded a GLL Sport Foundation sponsorship for 2025/26, which provides practical help with training and competition costs. It is another sign that his potential has been recognised beyond individual results.
Through the season, Maciej has kept himself in contention across age-group tournaments at home. In January, he reached the boys’ doubles final at an Under-17 tournament, showing that he can compete above his age. In February, he took mixed doubles silver at the Gloucestershire Under-15. March brought a boys’ doubles final in Milton Keynes. April was his strongest month, when he won both boys’ and mixed doubles and finished runner-up in singles at the Wiltshire Under-15. In August, he added another title with boys’ doubles gold at the Kent Under-15. These runs to finals and titles across singles, doubles and mixed show his ability to deliver in different events and against a range of opponents.
Maciej reflected on the season by saying, “I’m proud of being able to compete with the top players in the country. Even when things didn’t go my way, I learnt from it and I feel more confident on court now, not just technically but mentally too”. He explained how he manages those moments in matches when the pressure is high, “Sometimes I just take a few deep breaths and focus on the next point. That really helps me reset when things aren’t going well”.
The season has also taught him more about tactics. In boys’ doubles, he has learned the value of keeping the attack straight to let his partner intercept. In mixed doubles, he has learned how important it is to support his partner by building the attack from the back of the court. When he keeps the shuttle going downwards and uses placement rather than just power, it gives his partner more chances to dominate at the net. In singles, he knows he must be more patient in long rallies and avoid forcing the smash too early. These are the kinds of small improvements that build over time.
Maciej said, “I want to work on my singles more. I’ve had some strong doubles results, but I want to push further in singles and get better at handling the longer rallies”. He added that he is also looking forward to the extra training opportunities. “I want to make the most of the camps and international trips, because every time you play or train outside of England, you learn something new”. The next season will bring more chances to test himself in national Gold events, and if he continues to show his level, there will be further opportunities with England abroad.
Maciej’s 2024/25 season has shown what can happen when a player with talent and focus is given the chance to step into higher levels. He has represented England twice, trained with one of the game’s legends, been invited into the national performance pathway, won multiple domestic finals, and gained sponsorship support. The challenge now is to build on that base, to keep working in training, and to carry those lessons into the new season.
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Courtesy: @petergadeoffcial, @yonexuk, @yonex_com
