Meet 2025 Tennis Recruit: Akaash De Silva

Meet Akaash De Silva, a Sri Lankan tennis player set to continue his playing career and academic journey in the UK this year.

From picking up a racket in Sri Lanka to honing his skills in Qatar, Akaash De Silva’s tennis journey has already crossed borders — and his next stop is the UK, where he’ll combine university study with competitive tennis.

Introduced to the sport at the age of four by his tennis-playing parents, Akaash has been immersed in the game from an early age. After representing his school in Sri Lanka across every junior category, he relocated to Qatar at age 12, where he committed fully to tennis.

Akaash’s proudest achievements include representing Sri Lanka in the Junior Davis Cup at just 16 and, more recently, serving as a hitting partner at the Qatar Open ATP and WTA tournaments, where he had the chance to hit with world-class players like Stan Wawrinka, Gaël Monfils, and Karolína Plíšková.

Now, he’s preparing to begin a Mechanical Engineering degree at a university known for having some of the strongest industry connections in the UK, where he’ll study Mechanical Engineering while competing for the university tennis team — a decision shaped by his interest in engineering, his passion for motorsport, and the opportunity to continue playing competitive tennis as part of a well-supported student-athlete environment.

We spoke with Akaash about his journey so far, what inspired his move to the UK, and how working with The Student Sport Company helped him navigate the entire process.

Can you tell us a bit about your background — where you’re from and how long you’ve been playing tennis?

“I started playing tennis at the age of 4 because both my parents played tennis and my mother was a coach, so I grew up surrounded by the sport.

Throughout my early school years in Sri Lanka, I represented my school in every tennis age category up to Grade 8, and I was also active in other sports like cricket, rugby, and football.

However, when I moved to Qatar at age 12 due to my father’s work, I chose to focus solely on tennis. That allowed me to fully dedicate myself to improving, and I began to see real progress. I was ranked number 1 in the Under-14 category and number 2 in Under-18 in Qatar.

One of my proudest moments came at 16 when I was selected to represent Sri Lanka in the Junior Davis Cup team which was one of biggest achievements in my tennis journey.

More recently, in 2024 and 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to be a sparring partner at the Qatar ATP and WTA tournaments. That experience gave me the chance to hit with some of the world’s top players, including Stan Wawrinka, Gaël Monfils, Paula Badosa, and Karolína Plíšková. Practicing with athletes of that level was inspiring and motivated me to improve.”

What motivated you to explore opportunities to study and compete overseas, and why was the UK appealing?

“My motivation to study and compete overseas comes from a desire to grow both academically and athletically by stepping outside my comfort zone. I wanted to be in a new environment where I will be exposed to different cultures and ideas.

The UK stood out to me because of its strong academic reputation, especially in engineering. Universities in the UK also give me the opportunity to continue my journey in tennis alongside me studies.”

Were there any challenges or uncertainties you faced in the process, and how did you/or working with The Student Sport Company help to overcome them?

“One of the main challenges I faced during the application process was the uncertainty around knowing how to approach universities or who to contact regarding sports opportunities. However, working with The Student Sport Company made a huge difference.

They reassured me throughout the process and provided clear guidance on what to expect. More importantly, they helped connect me with key university sports staff, which allowed me to showcase my athletic background effectively. Thanks to their support and network, I was fortunate to receive offers from several of the universities I was most interested in.”

What are you most excited about as you get ready to study and compete in the UK?

“I’m excited to experience a new culture, meet people from around the world, and represent my university in competitive tennis. Studying in the UK also gives me the chance to grow academically while exploring a brand new city.”

What factors were the most important for you when making your final university decision?

“Some of the factors that led me to make my decision include:

• A university with a competitive tennis team to continue my athletic development.
• A high-quality Mechanical Engineering program with strong industry links.
• A university that has a Formula Student Team, as I’m passionate about working with race cars.”

How would you describe the support you received from The Student Sport Company during this process?

“The Student Sport Company played a major role throughout my university application journey. From the very beginning, they provided me with personalised guidance and support, which made the entire process much smoother and less overwhelming.

One of the most valuable things they did was help me connect directly with university tennis coaches and sports staff, which allowed me to discuss my athletic background and explore the possibilities of representing the university in sport.

They also guided me in identifying and applying for scholarships that I was eligible for, something I would have found very difficult to navigate on my own. In addition, they offered honest and insightful advice when it came to comparing university offers.

What really stood out was how quick they were to respond and how willing they were to answer any questions I had. Their continuous support and encouragement gave me confidence throughout the process and played a huge part in helping me make my decision. I’m truly grateful for the role they played in making this opportunity possible.”

Interested in pursuing your tennis career and education at a UK University? We can help!

We proudly work with the leading sporting and academic institutions throughout the U.K. and are able to offer international students of all ages and levels of study the opportunity to combine their preferred academic qualifications with their sporting ambitions.

Learn more about UK university tennis below, or register your details for our free service to embark on an exciting student-athlete journey in the UK.