All England Club Ready to Host Play Your Way to Wimbledon Finals

8 de agosto de 2024

THU 08 AUG 2024 15:57 BST

All England Club Ready to Host Play Your Way to Wimbledon Finals

The national finals of Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, returns to SW19 once again, featuring the exhibitions of para standing and deaf tennis categories.

SOCIAL

The All England Club will host the UK’s most promising tennis players next week as the national finals of Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, returns to SW19 from 11 – 17 August.

Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone and supported by the All England Club and the LTA, is Britain’s largest individual mass participation tennis competition which provides recreational players of all ages and abilities the opportunity to compete on Wimbledon’s world-famous grass courts.

Last year’s event saw four new competition pathways added, broadening the playing opportunities and inspiring more players to pick up a racket. Following record participation in 2023, this year’s event will be the largest finals in the competition’s history due to the additional categories, which this year includes a junior wheelchair pathway, as well as exhibitions of para standing and deaf tennis.

All competitors will be able to immerse themselves in the true Wimbledon experience, competing in white tennis kit, utilising the player facilities and the opportunity to tour the historic Grounds and visit the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum during the week.

Former British No.1s and Vodafone Ambassadors Tim Henman and Laura Robson will also join the event to inspire and support competitors as they take to the courts. Henman will be in attendance on Monday 12 August, while on Thursday 15 August, Junior Wimbledon Champion and Olympic silver medallist Laura Robson will lead a coaching clinic alongside the All England Club’s Head Coach Dan Bloxham, allowing players who just missed out on the 14U national finals to experience grass court play.

The action commences on Sunday 11 August with the first round of the 14U girls’ and boys’ competition; followed by the girls’ and boys’ 18U doubles on Tuesday 13 August; the adults’ doubles beginning Wednesday 14 August; and the learning disability, visually impaired and adults and junior wheelchair tennis categories taking to the courts from Friday 16 August.

Olly Scadgell, LTA Participation Director, said: “This year Play Your Way to Wimbledon has provided over 12,700 recreational players with the opportunity to take part in fun, social competition through the regional and county stages hosted at over 600 venues across Britain. For those who have made it through to the national finals, and those competing in the para standing and deaf tennis exhibition events, it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity that we hope will inspire lifelong participation in the sport.”

Vodafone ambassador, Tim Henman, said: “Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is an incredible competition giving grassroots tennis players of all abilities the chance to get involved in the sport. It’s amazing to see how last year’s introduction of disability categories has helped to increase participation numbers for the event and continues to ensure the tournament is as inclusive as possible. Vodafone’s commitment to driving accessibility in tennis is fantastic and I can’t wait to see even more competitors take part next year.”

Jamie Baker, Associate Director of Professional Tennis at The Championships, said: “It’s always a special time of year welcoming players across all the competition categories to the national finals at Wimbledon and, for many, providing their first opportunity to play on our famous grass courts. Alongside Vodafone and the LTA, we are delighted to add the junior wheelchair tennis pathway as well as welcome para standing and deaf tennis players to the event to showcase their skills.”

Find out more about Play Your Way to Wimbledon here.