BTQ: Issue 10 by British Tennis Quarterly

WIN TICKETS TO THE O2! See page 5 for your chance to win

tickets to see the top stars at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals ISSUE 10

BTQ SPECIAL: WHAT AND WHERE TO WATCH A comprehensive roundup of all the must-see events this summer

BTQ SPECIAL: GLORY OF GRASS WITH GREG AND TIM Two tennis legends share their favourite memories of playing on the green stuff

BTQ SPECIAL: SUMMER TENNIS SURVIVAL GUIDE All you need to know about playing, watching and loving tennis

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SUMMER 2013

COME ON, ANDY! Britain’s No.1 talks about his amazing year and his hopes for Wimbledon “IT’S A FANTASTIC SPORT” Paralympian medallist and TV presenter Ade Adepitan on his love for disabled tennis GETTING ACTIVE Andrew Castle on why a new ﬁtness regime can be beneﬁcial to your game

Download the free Junaio app to view our exclusive video content. See page 3 for details

MAKE IT A SMASH-HIT SUMMER!

All the tournaments, all the action and a certain Mr Murray – our summer tennis special has everything you need to ensure you don’t miss out

MY VIDEO WALL // JUDY MURRAY SPEAKS // DRESS LIKE A WINNER // WELLBEING AND FITNESS // AND MORE!

LTA SUMMER EVENTS APP

Download the LTA Summer Events App for FREE and start following all the latest news and action today! The app is available for iPhone and Android mobiles – to ﬁnd it in the store please search for Aegon Tennis or LTA. The app delivers all the very latest action to the palm of your hand across the Aegon Championships, Aegon Classic and Aegon International. Boasting all the latest news, live scores, results, photos, videos and much more, you won’t want to miss out. Track your favourite player’s progress with our comprehensive coverage of all three events.

Navigate through all three tournaments in one app Keep up to date with the latest news, scores, results, videos, photos and player rankings from the Aegon Championships, Aegon International and the Aegon Classic this summer Live scores are updated every 30 seconds, keeping you abreast of all the latest on-court action Order of play and draws tell you who is due to play whom on each day Check out all the latest player stats in our player proﬁles at the touch of a button

WELCOME

VIEW EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CONTENT If you have an iPhone, iPad or Android device, go to your app store and search for Junaio. Follow the on-screen steps to download and install the app.

Using Junaio 1. Open the Junaio app on your mobile or tablet. 2. Click on the magnifying glass and search for “LTABTQ”. Tap to follow. 3. To view the exclusive video content, scan any of the images throughout this issue of BTQ that have the Junaio logo.

elcome to the sizzling summer edition of British Tennis Quarterly, the magazine that keeps you updated with all things tennis in Britain. Whether you’re a casual fan, social player, tennis fanatic or a little of each, we really do have something for everyone. We’ve got a survival guide for the summer, a reminder of what British No.1 and world No.2 Andy Murray has been up to for the past 12 months, and some cracking coaching tips for all levels, among plenty of other treats. We’ll help you discover more about National Mini Tennis Week (page 20), give you some handy tips in the Coaching Corner (page 42) and let you know about some of the work the Lawn Tennis Association is doing to help more people play tennis, more often (page 6). As ever, we bring you some great regular features, including Judy Murray talking us through her summer plans. We also speak to Ade Adepitan in our Q&A and get

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some great advice from Andrew Castle on how to stay healthy this summer (page 44). We’ve got a really exciting new addition to this issue – BTQ is embracing the digital age! There are a number of videos scattered throughout this issue, which you can view using your smartphone – check out the new-look My Video Wall, which includes some great videos from our Aegon GB Fed and Davis Cup teams, and see British stars doing the Harlem Shake. See the box at the top of this page for details on how to download your FREE Junaio app. Lastly, see page 5 for details on how you can win tickets to this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2. Enjoy this issue of BTQ and, as always, if you have any questions, feedback, or you want to share your story with us, email editorial@lta.org.uk. The BTQ Team

SUMMER 2013

Cover: Getty Images

CONTENTS ISSUE 10

Anyone for tennis? As part of the LTA’s 125th anniversary, we open the archives and look back on the game’s past

SUMMER 2013

Published by the LTA Editorial: Ellie Carr, Vince Thorne The Lawn Tennis Association The National Tennis Centre 100 Priory Lane, Roehampton London SW15 5JQ editorial@lta.org.uk Design by Seven. Print by Charterhouse. *All ﬁgures are taken as of 21/05/13 All information correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved. Articles may not be reproduced without permission from the LTA. No responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments made by writers or interviewees. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the views of the LTA. Photo Credits: Getty Images, iStockphoto, Shutterstock, Thinkstock

Photography Terms and Conditions By submitting photographs, videos or any other content ﬁlmed, recorded or taken (the Content) to British Tennis Quarterly, you hereby grant and assign to the LTA the right to make, use and show the Content in any format from time to time (including but not limited to in British Tennis Quarterly or on www.lta.org.uk) in connection with the promotion of British Tennis or the LTA without compensation. Such promotional activities by the LTA shall not be identiﬁed as or represented to be an endorsement by you (or any individuals featured in the Content) of any product or company. If you are submitting Content featuring other individuals, you warrant that you have obtained the consent of such individuals to your submission of the Content and have ensured such individuals have read and agreed to this statement. If you are submitting Content featuring any children, you also warrant that you have obtained the consent of the parent or guardian of such children to your submission of the Content and have ensured that the parent or guardian has read and agreed to this statement. Please provide the contact details of each child’s parent or guardian as we may need to contact them.

“To win a tournament on your home soil feels good.” Will this be the summer when Andy Murray ﬁnally adds a Wimbledon crown to his impressive tennis CV?

Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski share their top tips and love of the green stuff – and predict who will reign supreme in SW19 come 7 July

FEATURES

SPECIAL SECTION

06 Who is the LTA? The LTA celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, but what exactly does it do to promote British Tennis? 12 Come on, Andy! Britain’s No.1 talks about his greatest year – Olympic gold and silver, ﬁnals at Wimbledon and in Australia, and winning his ﬁrst Grand Slam in New York 18 My video wall We go behind the scenes with Aegon GB Davis and Fed Cup teams, including exclusive video footage 20 LTA Mini Tennis How children aged three to ten can experience all the fun of tennis and start developing their skills 36 Cardio Tennis Keep your heart rate up, burn calories and have fun – welcome to the high-energy world of Cardio Tennis

23 Summer of tennis Your special nine-page guide to the best summer events to watch – and play in – from the glorious grass of The Queen’s Club to fun in the sun on Brighton beach 32 Lawn and order Two British tennis legends discuss all there is to know about playing on grass 34 Summer Tennis Survival Guide You’ve watched your heroes on telly and now you want to give it a go. But where do you begin? Let BTQ show you the path to tennis nirvana

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WHERETO FIND YOUR FREE VIDEO CONTENT

“It’s interesting to see who rises to the occasion at SW19.” Judy Murray on a busy summer for players, coaches and fans

p6&8 Who is the LTA? p18 My Video Wall p20 LTA Mini Tennis

p34 p36 p50

Summer Tennis Survival Guide Cardio Tennis Q&A

N WI

Andrew Castle and Laura Robson team up with Sir Richard Branson to launch an inclusive and unmatched tennis offering

Ade Adepitan, a smash hit for viewers of the Paralympic Games last year, on the joy he gets from playing tennis

INSIDER

18 Aegon GB Davis and Fed Cup stars shar star share their videos and snaps from an exciting spring

38 The winning look Want to look like Roger, Rafa or Maria? Then check out the latest range of Nike summer wear 40 Judy Murray speaks Britain’s top tennis mum flies the flag for supporting our up-and-coming British Tennis stars this summer 42 Coaching corner BTQ shares its tips for improving your game – and it doesn’t matter whether you are an absolute beginner or seasoned pro 44 Tennis wellbeing and fitness Former British No.1 Andrew Castle on the fitness regimes and workouts that can help to improve your game 46 Get your tennis fix There are many ways to become involved in British Tennis this summer, from volunteering to following your favourite players on Twitter 50 Q&A Paralympian, TV presenter and role model for disability sport, Ade Adepitan reveals why he is swapping the basketball court for the tennis court

TICKETS TO THE BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS!

For your chance to see the world’s best men in action at The O2, complete the online survey at the web address below or scan the image using your free Junaio app.

See the BTQ webpage for full T&Cs.

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FEATURE

VIDEO

CONTENT

Find out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on in British Tennis and how you can play your part this summer. Scan the racket using your Junaio app. 6

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

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FEATURE

EXPLORE BRITISHTENNIS BRITISH

With success on and off court, there has never been a better time to follow British Tennis – and with the popularity of programmes such as Mini Tennis and Cardio Tennis, the sport has never been more accessible to players of all ages and abilities

he Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body for tennis in Great Britain. Our role is to govern rn, develop and promote the sport with the goal of getting more people playing, more people following and more people winning in British Te Tennis. These are extremely exciting times for tennis in Great Britain. Last year, we celebra celebrated one of the best years for tennis in this country. We had Olympic and Paralympic medal success, a Grand Slam singles winner, a Wimbledon men’s doubles champion and a WTA title winner.

SIGN UPTO ALLPLAY.COM

There has never been a better time to get out there and pick up a racket, and it’s never been easier to ﬁnd a court, a playing partner or even a coach. Visit www.allplaytennis.com and enter your town or postcode to get started – easy!

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This year we have had Andy Murray winning ATP tour titles and getting to the final of another Grand Slam, success from our Aegon GB Davis and Fed Cup teams, Laura Robson and Heather Watson breaking into the top 40 for the first time, and in our junior ranks we had GB teams reach the Tennis Europe Winter Cups final rounds in all six age categories. Tennis is a fun, affordable, family-friendly sport for all ages and abilities. British success has got people talking about tennis – it’s now our job to get more people out there playing and following tennis!

There are some great ways of getting into tennis. LTA Mini Tennis uses smaller courts, lowerbouncing balls and smaller rackets, and is a great introduction to the game for kids. For adults, we have Cardio Tennis, which is a series of tennis-based drills played to up-tempo music on a tennis court. It doesn’t matter whether the ball ﬂies in or out – it’s all about having some fun and getting your heart rate up! So why not get out there and give tennis a go TODAY!

TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

Keep up to date and tell us what #TennisIs to you this summer by following @britishtennis on Twitter and by giving www.facebook.com/ britishtennislta a big LIKE!

SUMMER 2013

FEATURE

VIDEO

CONTENT

SERVING BRITISH TENNIS FOR

125 YEARS

As the LTA celebrates 125 years in 2013, BTQ opens the archives and looks at the changing face of tennis down the years

Great Britain’s Davis Cup team of 1936 celebrate after retaining the giant trophy. The victorious men (left to right) Bunny Austin, Fred Perry, Raymond Tuckey and Pat Hughes beat Australia 3-2 at Wimbledon. Major Walter Clopton Wingfield (1833-1912) circa 1900, regarded as the father of lawn tennis. In 1874 he patented a “New and Improved Court for Playing the Ancient Game of Tennis”, using an hour-glass-shaped court. Virginia Wade dives to reach the ball during the ladies’ final at Wimbledon, 1977. Wade defeated Betty Stove of Holland 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Former British No.1 Tim Henman in action at The Queen’s Club, London, on his way to the final. Henman reached the final at The Queen’s Club on three occasions in 1999, 2001 and 2002. Wightman Cup doubles partners. Left to right: Britain’s Freda James and Margot Lumb,

CHIEF EXECUTIVE ROGER DRAPER

“So much has changed in British Tennis over the past six or seven years, but the thing I’m really proud of is our teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers. When I’m out and about, I see all of the effort they’ve put in to get more people playing tennis. What I’m 8

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

with their American opponents Alice Marble and Sarah Fabyan at Wimbledon, 1938. The American pair won 6-4, 6-2 to help the US to a 5-2 win in the 16th edition of the annual women’s team tennis tournament. Herbert Brown of the LTA demonstrates the best way to receive a ground shot for entrants of the Middlesex Junior Championships at Harrow, 1931. John Crooke, a registered professional LTA coach, gives advice to keen players attending a course and coaching holiday held at Benenden School, Kent, 1963. Her Majesty The Queen opens the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton in 2007. The site has 22 courts, player accommodation and a world-class sports science centre. British twin tennis brothers William and Ernest Renshaw. William (left), who won a total of 12 Wimbledon titles, was elected the ﬁrst LTA president in 1888.

really proud of is all the things they do on the ground on a day-to-day basis.”

To watch the full interview with LTA chief executive Roger Draper, use your free Junaio app to scan the image above.

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FEATURE

YOUR SUPPORT HELPS US GROW THE GAME Aegon Schools Programme delivered training and equipment to

15,000+ schools

£12m

invested in our top players each year

3,500+

coaches supported through the LTA Coach Accreditation Scheme

Since

2008

£25m

invested in tennis facilities

8 www.lta.org.uk

9 Follow us on Twitter @britishtennis

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS SUMMER 2013

Pensions

Investments

Protection

With you from first serve to match point Over the past five years, our partnership with British Tennis has helped over 2.1 million school children pick up a racket and improve their future. With our knowledge of pensions, investments and protection, Aegon can help see you through your future too. Because it doesn’t matter if you’re looking ahead or ready to make the most of retirement, Aegon are

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here to help you plan for the financial future you want. Take the first step in transforming your tomorrow by speaking to your adviser or visit us at aegon.co.uk/BTQ Aegon is a brand name of Scottish Equitable plc (No. SC144517) and Aegon Investment Solutions Ltd (No. SC394519) registered in Scotland, registered office: Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh, EH12 9SE. Both are Aegon companies and are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Their FSA numbers are 165548 and 543123 respectively. © 2013 Aegon UK plc

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SUMMER 2013

FEATURE

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

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FEATURE

It was a great year for Britain’s No.1 – Wimbledon and Australian ﬁnals, Olympic gold and a ﬁrst Grand Slam success in New York. But as the season careers headlong into summer, will it be tears or triumph on the hallowed grass of SW19?

hat a year it has been for Andy Murray, a year that will never be forgotten and will cement his place in history as one of the greatest tennis players ever. Andy has come a long way from winning his ﬁrst junior tournament at U10 level at the Dunblane Sports Club to winning ATP Tour events, a Grand Slam and Olympic medals – and all that in just the past 12 months. He was always destined for greatness in one form or another, and having been offered to join Glasgow Rangers FC as a youngster, Andy decided tennis was the sport for him. After turning pro in 2005, Andy quickly added to an already impressive résumé, including the junior US Open crown, winning his ﬁrst ATP Tour title in San José just a year later. The rest, as they say, is history. www.lta.org.uk

Andy went from strength to strength, from tour title to tour title, breaking in to the top ten in the world rankings for the first time in 2007, and in 2008 reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. He reached a career-high ranking of No.2 in the world in 2009 and hasn’t been outside the top four since – a pretty impressive run. The Scot goes into the summer grass court season hoping to add more silverware to a trophy cabinet that is already bursting. He has an impressive record at the Aegon Championships, having lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2011, and will head into The Championships, Wimbledon with the country behind him, having come so close to winning last year when he became the first British man to reach the singles final in 74 years. We’re looking forward to a great summer of tennis, which Andy will undoubtedly play a big part in. SUMMER 2013

FEATURE

ANDY MURRAY

DOB: 15 May 1987 World ranking: 2 Career-high ranking: 2 (17 August 2009) Plays: Right-handed Best part of game: Serve Turned pro: 2005 Career singles titles: 26 Twitter handle: @andymurray Website: www.andymurray.com

Andy took some time out to answer questions about the past year – a year he called the best in his career, which we are sure he will build on. He tells us about his experiences in Grand Slam finals, how he reflects upon tough losses and uses them to make him stronger and mentally tougher, and what it will mean to him to come back to the Aegon Championships this summer. Obviously a disappointing final result for you at the Australian Open, but if you think back over the past 12 months, a lot has gone well, hasn’t it? Yeah, I think since Wimbledon last year my results in the big events have been as good as I would have hoped. You know you can’t win all of the big matches, but to get to play in a Wimbledon final, Olympics final, US Open final and then the Australian Open final, I think I gained a lot of experience because of that and an understanding of what it takes physically and mentally to play with that consistency in the big events. It’s been the best seven to eight months of my tennis career and I will try to continue it. What was it like the week following the Australian Open – how do you reflect on it and do you replay the final in your head, or just move on? A couple of days afterwards, yeah. It’s a long way back from Australia, it’s a long flight so there’s time to think, but you try to look at the tournament as a whole as much as you can. There is a lot of training that goes into it with all the work that you do 14

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

in December to prepare for it, so it’s disappointing not to come away with the result that you want. But it was a good start to the year and I won against Roger Federer for the ﬁrst time in a Grand Slam in ﬁve sets in a tough, tough match, and I won in Brisbane to start the year. It was a good start to my year, not the perfect start, but I think I will build on it.

“To win a tournament on your home soil feels good” In many ways, the Aegon Championships is where your pro career began – your ﬁrst match win was here and you’ve got quite a history at this tournament. What does it mean to you? Yeah, as you said, I won my ﬁrst match here. I used to come and watch Queen’s a couple of times when I was playing in the juniors at Wimbledon. I played the junior competition when they had it here as well and I have loads of great memories. I used to come and train here, too, when the National Tennis Centre was here. Winning the title a couple of times was great as well. To win a tournament on your home soil feels good, so I have got good memories from here. I enjoy coming back and it has been really good preparation for me for Wimbledon, and I hope it’s the same again this year.

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FEATURE

MURRAY’S MINT: A YEAR IN PICTURES July 2012

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

November 2012

London Olympics Andy wins gold after defeating Roger Federer in the men’s singles ﬁnal, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. October 2012

London Olympics He also wins a silver medal in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson. September 2012

ATP World Tour Finals At the end-of-season ﬁnale at The O2 arena, Andy gets to the semi-ﬁnals, losing to Federer. January 2013

Shanghai Rolex Masters The next month he reaches the ﬁnal in Shanghai, ﬁnishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic. January 2013

US Open Andy becomes the ﬁrst British man in 76 years to win a Grand Slam singles title. March 2013

To summer 2013

How much did the game miss Rafael Nadal? Do you think he can be a force again? The game missed him because of what he brings to the court. He is one of the best athletes that’s ever played and one of the most competitive players. He’s one of the greatest players who has played the sport so I think when he’s out you are obviously going to miss something. His rivalry with Roger has been one of the best our sport has ever had so I hope it doesn’t take too long for him to get back to playing his best tennis. Before he got injured tennis was in a great spot. There have been lots of great matches between the players right at the top of the game, with Roger and Rafa being two of the best players ever, and Novak has had an incredible few years. If Rafa gets back to his best game, it’s good for tennis. BTQ

Wimbledon Andy becomes the ﬁrst Brit to reach the Wimbledon men’s ﬁnal in 74 years.

August 2012

Winter break

Obviously every year The Championships, Wimbledon is a big goal, but how do you feel when you think about it? How much do you look forward to trying for the title again and going one better? I always look forward to it, it’s an exciting few weeks. All of the Grand Slams are special for different reasons – I think everyone would know why Wimbledon is special to me. Last year, I think I started to understand and appreciate the history, maybe more and more each year that I’ve played there, and to get to play in a ﬁnal there was great. I’m now a member so I spend a little bit more time at Wimbledon. Last year I would go and sit out and look at Centre Court when it was empty. The tournament means a lot to me and I always look forward to it.

August 2012

Brisbane International Andy wins his ﬁrst title of the year, beating Grigor Dimitrov in the ﬁnal.

Australian Open He goes on to reach his third Australian Open ﬁnal, losing to Djokovic in four sets.

Sony Open, Miami Andy wins in Miami, defeating David Ferrer in an epic deciding set tie-break.

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FEATURE

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great way to exercise, and fun for the whole family

Find out where you can play for free at allplaytennis.com Tellwww.lta.org.uk us what tennis means toonyou #TennisIs Follow us Twitter @britishtennis

SPRING 2013

FEATURE

VIDEO

CONTENT

MY VIDEO WALL

WITH AEGON TEAM GB 1

or this special summer edition of BTQ, we take a look at some of GB’s best players and what goes on when they represent their respective teams – both on and off court. Downtime for the players is just as important as concentrating and working hard during their training sessions on court. We thought we should celebrate the performances of our men and women’s teams this year after they have provided a lot of excitement and taken part in some incredible matches.

1. COME ON, GB!

The Aegon GB Davis Cup Team pose for the camera ahead of their Europe/Africa Group I second round tie against Russia. Use your Junaio app to see what the team had to say ahead of the tie.

2. LOOKING GOOD

The Aegon GB Fed Cup Team pose in their Ted Baker dresses ahead of their World Group play-off match with Argentina in Buenos Aires. Looking good, ladies!

3. ONETEAM, ONE DREAM

The team celebrate their victory over Russia, which takes them through to a World Group play-off against Croatia in September. A fantastic effort by all involved, with Dan Evans, James Ward, Colin Fleming and Jonny Marray all contributing to the victory. Not forgetting inspirational captain Leon Smith. Use your Junaio app to take a look at the moment GB secured the victory.

4. MARACAS AT THE READY

Jo Konta, Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha cheer on teammate Laura Robson during her day two match in Argentina. Want to ﬁnd out what really goes on behind the scenes at the Fed Cup? Use 18

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

The Aegon GB Davis Cup Team are looking forward ard to a promotion play-off in September thanks to a thrilling victory against Russia. The Aegon GB Fed Cup Team made a valiant effort at getting themselves out of the Euro/Africa Euro/Afr Group I. After cruising through the ﬁrst round with victories ies over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal and Hungary, they eventually entually lost narrowly against a strong Argentinian side on the clay in Buenos Aires in a promotion play-off y-off. Let’s take a look back at the action from Team GB so far this year. BTQ your Junaio app to take a tour with Jo. She’ll show you the changing rooms, team room and much more.

5. STRETCH IT OUT

Anne Keothavong does some stretching ahead of the tie. Stretching etching is a really important part of players’ player preparation before going on court and in their recovery to make sure they are ready to go the next day. Use you Juanio app to see Judy Murray taking the team through a warm-up exercise befor ore they get to the serious stuff.

6. WHAT’S SO FUNNY

Anne and Jo have a giggle during the pre-match press conference ence – I wonder what they are laughing about? Having a good laugh is really important to the team, and believe us, these girls are good at laughing. Check out the girls answering some questions sent in to @BritishTennis using your Junaio app.

Locations: Ricoh Arena, Coventry and the Mery Terán de Weiss Stadium, Buenos Aires Surfaces: Hard court and clay Players: James Ward Dan Evans Colin Fleming Jonny Marray RE NES MO E Laura Robson FOR HE-SC DEOS, , Johanna Konta D-T D VI PAGE N I N Anne Keothavong BEH TOS A Q WEBTA ON T IS L PHO T H E B T H E T E N N Elena Baltacha A IT LLOW TISH T S L I ins: Capta V NIS BRI FO O R T E R @ H T E N K. Leon Smith and IT T I S EBOO I W R T Judy Murray DB AC

F ON

7. OLÉ!

The girls really got into the Argentine spirit. Posing here in their tango hats, the girls were inspired when they went to watch the local dance during some downtime one evening. I wonder which one of them has the best rhythm…

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FEATURE

8. HERO!

Doubles pair Jonny Marr Marray and Colin Fleming celebrate with Dan Evans after his crucial ﬁfth rubber bber victory in Coventry, taking the Aegon GB Da Davis Cup Team into the World Group play-off play-off. What a win!

9. LET’S GO GB, LET’S GO!

The crowd in Coventry were amazing. It’s a massive boost to player players when they have the whole arena behind them, and this deﬁnitely helped to spur on Dan, James, Jonny and Colin on their way to def defeating Russia for a place in the World Group oup play-off. Make sure you get behind the Brits this summer.

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DAVIS CUP

The Davis Cup is the premier team competition in men’s tennis, with more than 100 years of tradition behind it. It’s also the largest annual team competition in sport and has a trophy to match – weighing just over 100kg and measuring 107cm in diameter at its widest point.

FED CUP

The inaugural Fed Cup was held in 1963 to mark the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation. It started with just 16 teams competing and has grown to be the largest international team competition in women’s sport, with more than 80 nations taking part.

SUMMER 2013

FEATURE

VIDEO

CONTENT

LTA MINI TENNIS

LTA Mini Tennis has smaller courts, nets and rackets and lower-bouncing balls, and with the excitement of the full game it offers the perfect introduction to tennis

hildren aged between three and ten can now get stuck into the world of tennis with an exciting programme from the LTA, sponsored by Highland Spring. LTA Mini Tennis is a modiﬁed version of the game speciﬁcally designed to introduce children aged three to ten to tennis.With smaller courts, nets and rackets, and lower-bouncing balls, LTA Mini Tennis allows children to develop vital skills and techniques at an early age. There are four age-related stages of LTA Mini Tennis: Tots, Red, Orange and Green, each with their own court size and type of ball.There is also an

LTA Mini Tennis awards scheme, called the Rally Awards, designed to regularly reward and track children’s improvement.

RALLY AWARDS

The LTA Mini Tennis Rally Awards are designed to help mini players learn in stages and take part in regular exciting challenges with rewards.They can track their own progress with stickers, certiﬁcates and badges and develop their tennis skills at a pace that suits them. The LTA Mini Tennis Rally Awards measure the ability of the players to play tennis in an objective framework, which will ensure standards are consistent across Great Britain.

MORE THAN 110,000 CHILDREN ARE PLAYING MINI TENNIS ACROSS GREAT BRITAIN

WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT COLOURS MEAN? TOTS The idea at the Tots level is for kids aged three to ﬁve to be able to learn the basics and enjoy the game through a series of fun activities, based on the fundamental areas of balance, co-ordination, agility, movement and racket and ball skills. RED, ORANGE, GREEN The core structure of the Red, Orange and Green Rally Awards is a consistent set of tennis skills that get progressively more challenging through each of the levels. The skills that are learned are: How to rally How to serve Coming to the net and volleying How to score and compete. Having successfully completed all levels within the Red, Orange and Green stages, players will be awarded with a badge and certiﬁcate from their coach. They are then ready to start playing yellow ball tennis.

NOTTINGHAM FESTIVAL OF TENNIS

The biggest National Mini Tennis Week festival is at the Aegon Challenge, which marks the start of the UK grass court season (see page 25 for more information). Last year more than 3,000 local schoolchildren took part in this event.

There will also be opportunities for children to have a go at LTA Mini Tennis at grass court tournaments, including the: Aegon Trophy Aegon Championships Aegon Classic Aegon International.

VISIT WWW.LTAMINITENNIS.CO.UK TO FIND A VENUE NEAR YOU 20

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

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1,500 PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DELIVERING LTA MINI TENNIS

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NATIONAL MINI TENNIS WEEK

National Mini Tennis Week 2013, sponsored by Highland Spring, aims to give thousands of children across the country a fantastic ﬁrst experience of tennis. Over a period of one week (Monday June 10 to Sunday June 16) more than 15,000 children will be given an opportunity to try out the sport in schools, parks and tennis centres across the country. National Mini Tennis Week also supports all registered LTA tennis venues to grow their LTA Mini Tennis programme by providing support to host a community open day, targeted at children and their parents. Many venues across the country have also received

funding from the LTA to deliver Mini Tennis to primary school pupils at their school. Every child who attends the session in school will be invited to attend an open day and given a voucher to take a free coaching session at their local club. This is a chance to continue their involvement in the fun, sociable game, and learn a sport for life. For more information on LTA Mini Tennis and National Mini Tennis Week please visit www.ltaminitennis.co.uk

MAKE A SPLASH ON THE COURT

Highland Spring knows that to have fun on the court and play your best, it’s really important that you keep yourself hydrated. But what does that mean? Well, about 60 per cent of your body is made of water. Amazing, isn’t it? So it’s really important to drink lots of water to keep healthy and feel great. LTA Mini Tennis supports the belief that hydration is a vital part of a healthy and active lifestyle, and water is the healthiest refreshment for children and big kids alike. So if, like Alﬁe, Billy, Suzi and Jess (pictured), you want to give it your all on and off the court, here are some tips for healthy hydration: If you are aged between three and eight you should be drinking around 1.3 litres of ﬂuid a day to stay well hydrated.* This increases to 1.47 litres a day for boys and 1.33 litres a day for girls aged nine to 13. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Keep drinking little and often throughout the day. Drinking more water will help you perform better in lessons: research shows being dehydrated can affect memory, concentration, co-ordination and reaction times. *The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) dietary requirement values for water intake.

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SUMMER 2013

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BTQ SPECIAL: SUMMER OFTENNIS

FUN IN THE SUN

With so much going on, we thought it might be helpful to pick out some of the best bits of the British Tennis summertime to help you plan your season. Over the next few pages you’ll ﬁnd all you need to know about some of the great events taking place this summer – plus a couple of famous faces

t’s been a long winter for even the most ardent tennis fan, with only the hardiest of player braving the snow-covered courts to get their outdoor ﬁx. But now those memories of crisp mornings and dark evenings have melted with the frost, and the smell of freshly cut grass ﬁlls the air. Which brings us rather neatly to our favourite surface. A British summer isn’t complete without images of the striking green courts of The Championships, Wimbledon and the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club.

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It’s not all about the “big two”, however, with events up and down the country making for a busy summer schedule. Check out our comprehensive listings starting on page 25 to ﬁnd your nearest event. Meanwhile, turn to page 32 to read two legends of the British game sharing their memories of playing on grass, and who they think will reign supreme in SW19. It’s going to be a great summer, so whether you are a casual fan, social player or fanatic, get down to your local court and have fun – just don’t forget to pack a brolly! BTQ

SUMMER 2013

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SUMMER OFTENNIS

SUMMER LISTINGS J UN NOTTINGHAM FESTIVAL OF TENNIS 1-16 JUNE AND 16-21 JULY Free entry

The Nottingham Festival of Tennis comprises a number of free activities and grass court tennis events, all held at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. The events, featured on this page, see top British and international players competing for more than $225,000 worth of prize money as they warm up for The Championships, Wimbledon. The festival will also be the focus of the second National Mini Tennis Week, sponsored by Highland Spring, from 10-16 June, with local schools invited

AEGON TROPHY 1-9 JUNE

The 2013 Aegon Trophy, the first of the pre-Wimbledon grass court tournaments, will take place on the world-class courts at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. The tournament consists of men’s and women’s international tennis playing for ATP/WTA world-ranking points and prize money of €64k (men) and $75k (women). The action starts from 10.30-11am during the week, finishing at 8-9pm depending on the weather and length of matches. The weekend finals have an 11am start. There is indoor back-up if the weather is bad.

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to participate in organised tennis activities. National Mini Tennis Week will see LTA Mini Tennis taking place in schools, clubs, parks and tennis centres across the country. Entry to the festival and seats on Centre Court are free, courtesy of the LTA and Nottingham City Council. Come and enjoy the action as players battle it out for the chance to win the much-coveted titles. For more information visit: www.nottinghamfestivaloftennis.com

It’s going to be a busy summer of tennis in Great Britain, with mouthwatering events up and down the country. And now with this handy guide to what’s on and where, there really is no excuse to miss out on the action

NATIONAL MINI TENNIS WEEK, SPONSORED BY HIGHLAND SPRING 10–16 JUNE

National Mini Tennis Week, sponsored by Highland Spring, will take place in schools, parks and tennis centres across the country from Monday 10 – Sunday 16 June. For more information and timings see pages 20-21.

BRITISH OPEN WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 16-21 JULY

Also part of the Nottingham Festival of Tennis, this event takes place slightly later in the summer. This year will see the world’s top players return to the country looking to repeat the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. See p29 for details.

AEGON NOTTINGHAM CHALLENGE 8-16 JUNE

The 2013 Aegon Nottingham Challenge sees players continue their preparation ahead of The Championships, Wimbledon. Entrants compete for prize money of €64k (men) and $50k (women), as well as ATP/WTA world-ranking points. The action starts from 10.30-11am, ﬁnishing at 8-9pm depending on the weather and length of matches. The ﬁnals start at 11am. Open sessions are free to families and friends. The Mini Tennis doubles and the Performance Team Challenge are invitational and are a chance to watch potential stars of the future.

J UN » SUMMER 2013

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SUMMER OFTENNIS

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AEGON CLASSIC

AEGON CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham

The Queen’s Club, London

9-16 JUNE

The Aegon Classic is a WTA International tennis event on the women’s tour, held at the Edgbaston Priory Club (EPC) in Birmingham. The 2012 tournament was the 31st anniversary of the event. Seen by some as a sister tournament to the Aegon Championships, the grass court tournament has been held at EPC since 1982. With prize money of $235,000, the event will be hosting some of the

world’s top female players. Why not make a day of it on 13 June and attend Ladies’ Day? If you can’t be there to watch, coverage will be live on Eurosport from Friday 14 June onwards. Ofﬁcial website: www.aegonclassic.co.uk Twitter: @aegonclassic Facebook: /aegonclassic

10-16 JUNE

The Aegon Championships, with its global audience, is recognised as one of the top ten tennis events in the world. Held in the run-up to Wimbledon, the event is consistently supported by the best singles and doubles players of the men’s game. Since the competition’s inception in 1979, 25 of the last 27 Wimbledon champions have played at Queen’s. Connors, Lendl, Edberg and Sampras are among the legends that have proudly lifted the iconic silver trophy. An ATP World Tour 250 event with prize money of €683,665, this is the event to attend this summer to watch Marin Cilic defend his 2012 title.

If you can’t make it, the event will be covered live on BBC1, BBC2, BBC Online and Eurosport. Ofﬁcial website: www.aegonchampionships.com

AEGON INTERNATIONAL 15-22 JUNE

Devonshire Park, Eastbourne Devonshire Park in sunny Eastbourne provides the idyllic setting for the Aegon International, a combined ATP and WTA event. The welcoming and friendly atmosphere attracts some of the world’s top men and very best women tennis players who often return year after year in a bid to lift the winner’s trophy – and make their ﬁnal preparations before The Championships, Wimbledon, which begins the week after. In recent years stars like former world No.1 Kim Clijsters, 2009 women’s champion Caroline Wozniacki and top 20 ATP players like James Blake and Feliciano Lopez have graced the courts and delivered world-class competition that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

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A WTA Tour Premier and ATP World Tour 250 series with prize money of $535,000 (WTA) and €405,500 (ATP), this event is a must for anyone wanting to walk the lawns and soak up that British summertime tennis feeling. Ofﬁcial website: www.aegoninternational.co.uk

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THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WIMBLEDON 24 JUNE – 7 JULY

The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon

Probably the best known of all tennis events worldwide, The Championships, Wimbledon needs no introduction. Running since 1877, the event is one of the four Grand Slams played on the tour and the only one to be played on grass. If you haven’t been able to get your hands on tickets yet, don’t forget you can cash in on your BTM membership. Junior and child British Tennis Members

can buy a Wimbledon ground pass for just £5 in the second week of The Championships after 5pm. If you’re coming down to SW19, don’t forget to visit the British Tennis Information Area underneath No.1 Court where you’ll ﬁnd fun activities and prize draws. Visit the BTQ webpage for more information and T&Cs.

BRITISH OPEN WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 16-21 JULY

Nottingham Tennis Centre Organised by the Tennis Foundation, the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships is one of six Super Series events on the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour, and one of the most important tournaments in the world outside of the Grand Slams. In 2013 the British Open will be celebrating its 24th year and will once again feature many of the world’s top players as they return to the country after competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Eton Manor. Last year’s event saw Japan’s Shingo Kunieda, Dutchwoman Esther Vergeer and American David Wagner pick up titles in Nottingham before going on to win gold medals at the Paralympics just two months later. With Vergeer now retired from the sport after remaining undefeated for more than 10 years, the women’s event will be hugely competitive, with the new generation looking to make their mark on the world stage. And with British No.1s Andy Lapthorne, Gordon Reid and Lucy Shuker working their way up the rankings to career highs in 2013, the chances of

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home success are high across all three divisions – men’s, women’s and quad. The ITF’s NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour originated in 1992 with 11 international tournaments. By 2000, the number of tournaments had reached 130 events in 37 countries, with the 2013 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour featuring more than 160 tournaments, including all four Grand Slams. From 2014 to 2016 the Tennis Foundation will be holding the NEC Singles Masters, the year-end event for the top-ranked players, in Queen

SUMMER OFTENNIS Elizabeth Olympic Park, continuing the wheelchair tennis legacy from the Paralympic Games. The Tennis Foundation also runs a Wheelchair Tennis Development Series for players getting their ﬁrst taste of competition. This is in addition to a series of camps run for beginners to try out the sport for the ﬁrst time. The British Open takes place at Nottingham Tennis Centre and your copy of BTQ entitles you to

free entry to come along and enjoy some world-class tennis. Please email disabilitytennis@ tennisfoundation.org.uk to claim your free tickets with the reference: BOBTQ. For further information about the event and disability tennis, please visit www.tennisfoundation.org.uk Twitter: @TennisFndation #BritishOpenWTC

AEGON COUNTY CUP 21-26 JULY

Countrywide (Group 1 is played in Eastbourne) Aegon County Cup events are played at various venues across the country throughout the year. Aegon County Cup events give players the opportunity to represent their county in team competition in national/regional stages. The age group categories range from 9U to 35-plus. The summer event, the Aegon Summer County Cup, is one of the oldest tennis events on the domestic calendar, with Gloucestershire men winning back in 1895 and Surrey winning the ﬁrst ladies’

event in 1899. This event is played in July and is purely a doubles event. This summer, why not head down to your nearest County Cup venue and support your local players? It’s completely free to get in and a great day out. For more information on the Aegon County Cup visit www.lta.org.uk/aegon-county-cup

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EUROPEAN BEACH TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 9-11 AUGUST

Brighton seafront This summer, the European Beach Tennis Championships will be held in Great Britain for the ﬁrst time. So why not come and watch the best beach tennis players in the world in Brighton this August! It’s free to watch and with more than 20 nations competing you might just fall in love with a whole new form of tennis you may not have heard of before. Beach tennis is mainly played as doubles on a court the same size as beach volleyball, with players using beach tennis rackets and a low compression orange tennis ball, which is not allowed to bounce during play. The ITF Beach Tennis Tour, a new circuit of international events of the sport’s fastest-growing offshoot, was launched in 2008.

The calendar consists of national association sanctioned and/or organised tournaments worldwide, which offer international ranking points to participants. The combination of tennis with sun, sea and sand makes beach tennis the game to try this summer. The sport can be played by all ages and all playing abilities – it’s a fantastic way to spend time with your friends and family. The LTA and Beach Tennis UK are working together to establish more beach tennis venues and get more events running across the country. If you are interested in getting involved go to www.lta.org.uk/beachtennis

SUMMER OFTENNIS

BRITISH CLOSED SENIORS’ GRASS COURTS CHAMPIONSHIPS 18-24 AUGUST

Aorangi Park, Wimbledon This ITF Grade 2 event was born in the infancy of the then Veterans’ Lawn Tennis Association of Great Britain, founded in 1974. The event started on the shale courts of the All England Club in 1975 with the men’s 45 and 55 age categories. A women’s 40 event was added in 1979 to be joined by the 50s in 1985. As the

popularity of seniors’ tennis expanded, more age groups were provided for and the tournament outgrew the Wimbledon courts, so that until 1986 some of the age groups were played at The Queen’s Club. The event moved to the grass of Aorangi Park in 1987, with age groups for men from 35 to 85 and 35 to 80 for women.

SOUTH OF ENGLAND SENIORS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS 26-31 AUGUST

Devonshire Park, Eastbourne Played on the high-quality grass courts of the International Tennis Centre at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, this ITF Grade 2 tournament forms a popular way of rounding off the season. All age groups are catered for – up to 75 for women and 80 for men. For those unlucky enough to lose their ﬁrst match, consolation events

are held. There is also an ofﬁcial hotel and a Championships Dinner held midweek. The tournament attracts players from overseas, curious to see how well they play on grass for the ﬁrst time, in addition to enjoying the seaside ambiance. www.seniorstennisgb.org

AEGON GB PRO-SERIES

VARIOUS DATES

Manchester, Ilkley, Felixstowe, Foxhills, Chiswick, Wrexham, Nottingham

The Aegon GB Pro-Series represents both men’s and women’s events that are part of the ITF Pro Circuit and ATP Challenger Tour, taking place in Great Britain with prize money ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. This level of

competition features many of the world’s up-and-coming players who are looking to progress to compete on the main ATP and WTA tours. All events are open to spectators. Visit the BTQ webpage for more details.

AEGON BRITISH TOUR VARIOUS DATES

Locations countrywide The Aegon British Tour provides a circuit of tournaments designed to complement the international calendar, giving up-and-coming players the opportunity to gain experience in their quest to become professional tennis players. Players can gain points from each competition, with a leaderboard

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displaying the total points gained from competitions throughout the year. Similar to the WTA tour and ATP tour, the top players on the leaderboard after all tournaments have been played are invited to the end-of-year Masters. All events are open to spectators and free to watch. Visit the BTQ webpage for more details.

SUMMER 2013

BTQ SPECIAL

TIM HENMAN

DOB: 6 September 1974 Career-high ranking: 4 (8 July 2002) Plays: Right-handed Best part of game: Serve-volley Turned pro: 1993 Career singles titles: 11 Wimbledon best: SF 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 The Queen’s Club best: F 1999, 2001, 2002

LAWN & Lucky old BTQ managed to catch up with Brit superstars of yore, Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman, to get their thoughts on our favourite surface – grass – and also get their tips for Wimbledon this summer

Do you remember the first competitive match you played on grass? GREG: I’ve always liked playing on grass. One of my first memories in tennis is playing at Newport, Rhode Island, and winning that event – my first career title – and qualifying for Wimbledon in 1993. But I have other good memories of playing on grass, such as winning in Nottingham on two occasions, before the event moved to Eastbourne. Really good memories – grass has always been pretty good to me. TIM: In a junior tournament when I was eight or nine. We played a lot in the summer at places like Cheltenham, Torquay and Bristol. Playing on grass at a young age certainly helped me when I got to play in the biggest and best tournament at Wimbledon because I felt very comfortable on that surface and it helped me have some good results. 32

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

What is it that makes it such a unique surface? GREG: Grass is so much different now than when I used to play on it. It is much slower, with higherbouncing balls. When I played you were told to try and not let the ball bounce by volleying it in the air. Tennis has changed so much now, but I have always enjoyed playing on grass courts. The adjustment between the clay courts of the French Open to grass is all about adapting your movement and getting used to getting a bit lower on the courts, as clay has very high-bouncing balls. You have to adjust with your movement patterns although these days you can pretty much play any game you want on grass. We used to be all about the serve and volley, chip and charge, get to the net as quick as you can. But now you don’t have to adjust your game quite as much – just your footwork. TIM: Grass is only played on for four weeks of the year, but soon to be

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SUMMER OFTENNIS

GREG RUSEDSKI

DOB: 6 September 1973 Career-high ranking: 4 (6 October 1997) Plays: Left-handed Best part of game: Serve Turned pro: 1991 Career singles titles: 15 Wimbledon best: QF 1997 The Queen’s Club best: SF 1997 Twitter handle: @GregRusedski1

ORDER ﬁve from 2015 when the extra week is added between the French Open and Wimbledon – which I think is good for grass court tennis. Before it was very much serve and volley dominated, but now the grass courts have changed and they’re much harder, the grass is much coarser, so the ball doesn’t skid through so much and the rallies are much longer. I think as a spectacle it’s much better. It’s a good surface for the players and it doesn’t put their bodies under so much strain, so hopefully grass court tennis can have a bit of a resurgence and go from strength to strength.

What is the best grass court match you’ve ever seen? GREG: For me I love the classics – John McEnroe v Bjorn Borg in the 1981 Wimbledon final, with McEnroe coming through to win it, is my favourite match on grass. I think my favourite match I played on grass was at Wimbledon against Jonathan Stark, back in 1997, when I went on to make the quarter-finals. I was two sets down, I was struggling a little bit with my back at the time, it got rain delayed and I came back to win 11-9 in the fifth set. So it was a good memory to win that one, but also beating Mark Philippoussis in the first round of Wimbledon in straight www.lta.org.uk

sets, when he was seeded seventh, was fantastic.

TIM: The first Wimbledon final that I ever commentated on – Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal in 2008. Nadal won 9-7 in the fifth set. The drama of the match was extraordinary, with Nadal being up two sets to love and Federer coming back and winning the third and fourth sets in the tiebreak. The light was starting to go, but Nadal managed to win and took his first Wimbledon title. Who are your tips for the Wimbledon title this year? GREG: Wimbledon is going to be very interesting this year – Andy Murray certainly has a great chance. If I look at it, for me it is all about the big players, with Murray having a really good chance to win after getting to the final last year. Time will tell after the French Open whether it will be Murray, Novak Djokovic or Nadal. I’m not going to say the defending champion, Roger Federer, which I can’t believe, but I think it will be between the other three. TIM: Andy Murray is going to be one of the favourites if not the favourite, on the back of making the final last year and winning Olympic gold. He’s going to be very comfortable there and has as good a chance as anyone.

SUMMER 2013

BTQ SPECIAL

VIDEO

CONTENT

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SUMMER OFTENNIS

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SUMMER 2013

FEATURE

VIDEO

CONTENT

Cardio Tennis is a series of tennis-based drills and activities played to up-tempo music on a tennis court. It doesn’t require tennis skills, but is all about keeping your heart rate up, burning calories and having fun. Whether the ball goes in or out is irrelevant, the main purpose is to get ﬁt!

BENEFITS OF CARDIO TENNIS

Not only will you have the chance to meet new people and have fun in an upbeat and sociable group environment, but you will also: Improve your heart and lung ﬁtness and reduce your risk of heart disease Tone and shape your key muscle groups Burn calories for a leaner body Build and improve your tennis skills. 36

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

A TYPICAL SESSION

Your trained Cardio Tennis instructor will lead you through a 60-minute session consisting of a short warm-up and cool-down either side of a 40-minute full-body cardio workout. 1. WARM-UP Some dynamic stretching and skills and drills to get your body warm and mind sharp before the workout begins. 2. AEROBIC SECTION Here’s your chance to hit loads of shots, including forehands, backhands, serves and volleys, all mixed with a variety of sideline activities. 3. TENNIS SECTION Practise your shots with fun tennis games.You’ll never play one on one – your teammates will be with you all the way. 4. COOL-DOWN Well done, you made it! Now it’s time to recover and stretch.

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FEATURE

KIRSTY GARRETT HEAD COACH, SUTTON CHURCHES TENNIS CLUB, SURREY

Kirsty has been running Cardio Tennis sessions at her venue for about two years. She takes three sessions a week, one of which is for women only. She says: “We get a good turnout to our sessions and it attracts everyone. Our sessions have a great mix of players and non-players, and all ages from 14 to 72. “Cardio Tennis has really helped us to attract more people to tennis at our club and has meant we could expand the coaching programme. We have increased our membership and caught the interest of members who perhaps hadn’t been using the club as regularly as they should have. Also, personally, I am much ﬁtter, too. “I love using the heart-rate monitors and the lively music, not to mention the speed and the fun. But it’s not just me that loves it – here’s what some of those taking part think.” Wayne Mar: “I’ve been doing Cardio Tennis now for almost two years since I joined the club and it is a great way of becoming, and keeping, ﬁt. I really like the way all levels can do the session together. Kirsty always does a great session. I will make sure that I do Cardio Tennis even if I don’t manage to do anything else. For me it’s a ‘must’ part of the week.” Dominique Delhalle: “I was known at the club for my ‘I don’t run’ motto, but after Cardio Tennis the improvement has been noted – I now run like a rabbit! Thanks, Kirsty. Thanks, Cardio Tennis!” Ian Bignell: “Cardio Tennis not only gave me the opportunity to lose a stone in weight in six months, but it also gave me an extra appetite for more tennis through some of the excellent drills that we did.”

GET INVOLVED

Did you know there are now over 1,000 coaches trained to deliver Cardio Tennis in more than 700 venues in Great Britain? Find your nearest venue offering Cardio Tennis by visiting www.lta.org.uk/cardiotennis and clicking on “Find a Class”. To see Cardio Tennis in action use your Junaio app to scan the image below. @cardiotennis_uk www.facebook.com/UKCardioTennis

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SUMMER 2013

INSIDER

THE WINNING LOOK

MAKE SURE YOU’RE LOOKING LIKE A PRO THIS SUMMER – CHECK OUT THE LATEST KIT PWP IS EXTREMELY PROUD to be the LTA’s new online retail partner, providing a comprehensive and cutting-edge new website to the tennis community. It is looking forward to working with the LTA to give British Tennis Members exclusive offers on tennis clothing, footwear and equipment. Visit the shop today at www.lta.org.uk/shop

Nike Rafa Peaks Crew – Fibreglass Men’s, £44.99 Junior, £27.99 Rafa’s shirt for the European clay court season is available in both men’s and junior versions, so you can have the King of Clay’s style whatever your age. A modern silhouette with reduced shoulder seaming to enhance mobility and offer zero distraction – so you can stay laser-focused on bringing your best game. Sweat wicking Dri-FIT fabric and strategic mesh panels for comfort and breathability.

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

Nike Premier RF Crew – Tournamline £44.99 This stylish new shirt is packed with technology to give you every advantage: Strategically placed mesh panels to keep you cool in the heat of the moment. Signature Dri-FIT fabric to wick sweat away for supreme comfort. Contoured seams that lay ﬂat against the body for zero distraction.

Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour – Midnight Navy £99.99 A collaboration between Roger Federer and renowned Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour is designed to meet the dynamic needs of the modern game, all in a sleek and stunning new colourway. Running-inspired upper delivers improved forefoot flexibility, breathability and ride. Dynamic-fit technology adapts to the foot for a custom, comfortable fit. Nike Zoom cushioning in the heel provides top-notch yet lightweight cushioning and nimble performance.

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Nike Premier Maria Tank – Ice Blue £32.99 Modern. Elegant. Stylish. All words associated with tennis style icon Maria Sharapova. The Nike Premier Maria Tank will be Maria’s top of choice this summer. Woven straps allow for a greater range of motion with no limitations. Built-in bra offers modesty, shaping and essential support. Top-notch technical fit fabric offers sweat-wicking performance as well as a flattering fit.

WIN !

Babolat Pure Drive GT £135.99 The Pure Drive GT is Babolat’s No.1 racket for good reason – it’s a superb frame. With Babolat’s “GT” technology, this frame offers amazing power combined with the feel and stability of a 300g racket. These characteristics make the racket just as accessible to club players as it is to touring pros. Also features Babolat’s renowned “Cortex Expert” technology in the throat, a system that works to eliminate harmful vibrations while still delivering appropriate feedback and feel to the player. As used by Julien Benneteau, Sara Errani and a huge number of other pros.

To be in a this g£25 vouc with a ch h a reat kit, s er to put nce of w to se imply te towards inning One e mo ll us w som e re of be re lucky w in BThat you wof dee inn Q. a nt PWP, med at t er will re ce h on N ike a e LTA onli ive a £25 nd B abolane shop, voucher To en p t t pro ter v duct owered bo isit w s only The c y w w.lta lo . s .o in rand rg.uk omly g date is /BTQ s 1 take pla elect o 9 Augu term ce on 22 ne winne st when s and Augu r. The we w on th condit st. Com draw w ill io il e p www BTQ webns are lis etition l .lta.o t rg.ukpage at ed /BTQ

Babolat Team Tennis Ball from £18.99 per doz Babolat’s Team tennis ball has quickly yet understandably established a fine reputation for itself. A top-grade ball that you’re bound to see at tournaments and club matches all over the country. High-performance core. “Extra feel” felt. ITF approved. Nike Premier Maria Skort – Cool Grey £32.99 Designed to perfectly match Maria’s Premier Tank, or a perfect skort to add some style to any on-court ensemble. Built-in briefs for snug support. Flat-seam construction to minimise irritation. Wider stretch waist for a snug fit and a flat finish.

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SUMMER 2013

INSIDER

JUDY W

SPEAKS

hoever said “grass is for cows” was wrong. It’s deﬁnitely for the British Tennis fan. The grass season is the time when the tennis world focuses its attention on our country because we host most of the major events, so June and July tend to be the months when we go bat and ball crazy. They also represent our biggest opportunity to attract new people into the game because there’s so much exposure in the media. I see the great British summertime as a massive chance to grow the game, to educate the tennis workforce and to inspire our players – young and not so young. Because the LTA runs a number of the major ATP, WTA and ITF grass events, there are many areas where we can create opportunities for people to see behind the scenes, meet and watch world-class players and coaches, and to learn about the running of big tennis events. For our players, we have a number of wild-card entries to allocate, which allows us to reward deserving juniors and seniors with access into tournaments that are beyond their current ranking. It’s hectic, it’s exciting and it’s stressful. Well, that’s how it was for me last year – bombing around middle to southern England trying to carry out coaching, mentoring and parental duties. This year will be no different, but for me the grass season is all about creating opportunities; it’s a chance 40

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

The summer tennis season in Great Britain is a busy time for players, coaches and fans alike. And, as Judy Murray points out, ﬂying the ﬂag for some of the country’s most promising youngsters – and a certain Wimbledon hopeful – is an opportunity not to be missed

to watch all of our female players in top-class competition on home turf (no pun intended), and to spend time with the best junior girls and a number of female coaches. Here’s a wee insight into some of the things I’m planning to cover... During the Aegon Classic at Edgbaston, Claire Curran (LTA lead coach, women’s doubles) and I are taking advantage of Ladies’ Day (Thursday) and putting together a coach education package for 12 female coaches and a motivational/ educational trip for eight of our top U12 girls. This will involve an on-court training session, a behind-the-scenes tour to meet everyone from the tournament director and the ballkids to the physios and the media liaison ofﬁcers, as well as visiting the players lounge to speak to competitors and coaches. We will even arrange attendance at a press conference and the opportunity to learn how to scout top players during matches on the Centre Court. In the following week, I’ll be based at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton to cover both Wimbledon qualifying and help prepare our GB junior team to play the USA for the annual Maureen Connolly Trophy. This event is great fun and allows both teams much-needed training and match practice on grass before the ITF event at Roehampton and junior Wimbledon. The match is played at Eastbourne on the Thursday and Friday of the Aegon Like us on facebook.com/britishtennislta

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The Maureen Connolly Trophy, held during the Aegon International

“It’s interesting to see who rises to the occasion at SW19 and who behaves like a day tripper” International so the girls will have the added beneﬁt of being part of a major event and rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s best players. I see this match as a big chance for me to work with – and get to know – our best 15 to 17-yearolds, who may become our Fed Cuppers of the future. After that we are into Wimbledon and that involves the usual racing ’n’ chasing around the All England Lawn Tennis Club trying to watch and support all of our players (and their coaches), as well as servicing the many media requests that inevitably come my way. The second week is all about the juniors and www.lta.org.uk

again is an opportunity to watch our most promising girls in a major competition. It’s always interesting to see who rises to the occasion, who is paralysed by it, who is totally distracted by the hype around SW19 and who behaves like a day tripper. You know the type... happy to be here, but no ambition or belief that they can do some damage in the draw. It’s all about the mind-set. Very few juniors know how to play on grass because the season is so short and hardly any countries have grass courts nowadays. So, again, it’s a big opportunity for our players. If they believe! I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve mentioned the word “opportunity” in this article, but that’s how we must ALL view the grass season... and make sure we max out. BTQ DON’T FORGETTO CHECK OUT JUDY’S LATEST BLOGS – VISIT WWW.LTA.ORG.UK/BTQ TO SEE WHAT SHE’S BEEN UP TO RECENTLY SUMMER 2013

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C O A C H IN G CORNER

IT’S IMPORTANT YOU S ARE TAKING TENNIS TIPL. VE LE UR YO TO APPROPRIATE ARES THIS ISSUE OF BTQ SH YOU, SOME TIPS FOR ALL OFKNOW WHETHER YOU DON’T CKET ONE END OF THE RA WELL FROM THE OTHER, AS R THE AS SOME ADVICE FO SEASONED PROS

HAVEN’T A CLUE

Look to sign up to a beginner’s course at your local club or tennis centre. Most venues will run some sort of beginner’s coaching course to get new players into the game in the spring/summer.

Don’t worry about scoring to begin with. It’s easy once you get the hang of it – hitting the ball is plenty enough to worry about to start with. So why not just keep it simple, scoring up to 11 or 21, for example? You could even swap serve every two points.

All you need to start playing is a racket and some trainers – wear whatever clothing you feel comfortable in. Once you play more regularly you might want to invest in specialised tennis trainers, which offer extra support. Stay on your toes. It sounds simple, but being on the balls of your feet keeps you ready for action rather than being ﬂat-footed (see picture, below). You’ll quickly get used to it and once you’re in the habit of bouncing on those toes you’ll become a coiled spring, ready to take on anything that ﬂies at you.

e thought it was about time we gave you some great coaching tips for you to take into your next ma match. tch. Here you can ﬁnd some great nuggets of advice, depending on your level. So whether you’re a complete beginner, a social hitter or a Murray wannabe, look no further for some great advice.

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

Get hold of some Mini Tennis balls – they’re not just for kids. Mini Tennis balls have been designed to travel through the air more slowly than yellow balls and have a more gentle bounce because of their low compression. They are a great way for players of any age to learn the game and will give you far more conﬁdence in the long run. You can buy them in some sports shops, or you might be able to borrow some off a coach at your local club.

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TOP OF MY GAME

Get the right strings. Remember that tighter strings offer more control, while looser strings provide more power. You can also choose thick or thin, but don’t forget that although thinner strings might give you better feel they are more likely to break. Thicker strings will last longer, but are less delicate. See BTQ issue 5 for advice from the country’s top stringer.

COULD DO BETTER

Use two hands on your backhand for a stronger shot, more support and extra stability. There’s always room for a singlehanded slice, but a good strong double-handed backhand where you swing low to high over your shoulder (like a golf shot) might be what’s missing from your game.

Don’t serve if you throw the ball up badly. Take your time and try again – if you throw the ball behind you and hit it, it’ll probably go out. If you throw it too far in front it is likely to hit the net. You can try as many times as you need.

Get a decent grip (grips come in sizes 1-5). If your grip is too small, then you’ll hold the racket too tightly and be at risk of developing tennis elbow. If your grip is too big you may struggle to hold it properly. To test your grip size, hold the racket as normal and you should have a 1cm gap between your thumb and foreﬁnger.

Find an LTA-licensed coach to help you improve. For a tennis coach to be accredited to the LTA they need to have attained certain criteria, which means you can rest assured your coach has the right credentials, e.g. regular CRB checks, ﬁrst aid training, full insurance and a commitment to the LTA’s code of conduct. Visit the BTQ webpage for more information.

Get a rating – this is an indication of your standard. It starts at 10.2 and goes up to 1.1. Your rating rises according to the number of wins you have in competitions. If you aren’t already competing, ﬁnd out how on the BTQ webpage.

Extend through the hitting zone. On groundstrokes you can achieve a double win of more power and more consistency by allowing your racket head to extend through the hitting zone. Many players pull the racket away from the contact point as soon as they’ve hit it. Gain the advantage by staying loose and extending the racket head through contact and then on to the target. This will give more power and a greater chance of a clean strike.

Shift your body weight through contact. On all strokes where you are trying to ﬁnd power and strength, using your body weight is a key to success. Hitting with the body and transferring body weight through contact is a characteristic of more advanced players. On groundstrokes, as you prepare to load your weight onto your back foot, then as you hit, feel the weight transfer through the contact point and onto your front foot as the shot completes. A good check is to see if your back foot is on tip-toe on completion of the stroke.

On serve, push your hand and knee into the court together. Getting the ball placement forwards and then driving the legs up is something you will see in all the great servers. A great cue to get you doing this is to start your forward motion of the serve by moving left hand and left knee (for a right hander) into the court together. This will only work, however, if you’ve got the ﬁrst part of the motion right and have rocked your weight back and turned your shoulders sideways.

Aim higher over the net. As players improve and start to hit harder a common misconception is that the lower they can hit over the net then the better the shot. The reality is that if you hit it low over the net the ball is more likely to hit the net and if it does go over it will almost certainly land short. The pros hit higher over the net than you think.

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SUMMER 2013

INSIDER

TENNIS WELLBEING & FITNESS Virgin Active, the LTA’s Ofﬁcial Health Club, has partnered with British female tennis star Laura Robson and former British No.1 Andrew Castle to launch an inclusive and unmatched tennis offering across the portfolio of 21 Health & Racquet Clubs

ouble Olympian and well-known broadcaster Andrew Castle was recently announced as adult tennis ambassador at Virgin Active Health & Racquet Clubs. Andrew’s role will see him visiting clubs across the country and running tennis clinics for members, encouraging them to pick up a racket and give tennis a go. Meanwhile, world No.35 Laura Robson will help drive participation among young players, particularly young girls. Here, Andrew talks about his ﬁtness regime and how you can improve your game through your workout. “Until a month ago my weekly workout involved at least two games of squash, but I have been forced into early retirement because my body was suffering too much. “The impact of squash on the hips and lower back takes its toll, so I am grieving for a sport that has given me a lot of pleasure, as well as pain. I know how important staying active is, however, so I’ve chosen lower impact forms of exercise to maintain strength and ﬂexibility.” 44

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

The former tennis pro may not play the sport as frequently as he did in his heyday, but he recognises the importance of proper preparation before a game. Andrew says: “I play tennis at least twice a week and with age I’ve become better at stretching and warming up. I have one training session a week with Julien Diaz, who is a former dancer with the Ballet Rambert, and ﬂexibility, strength and balance are his priorities. I would say he understands the body as well as anyone I have ever worked with, either on court or off.

He was recommended by my physio, who was seeing me too often.” It is important to vary your gym workout to get the most out of your game. Strength training and cardiovascular exercise will both help to give you an edge over an opponent. Fitness instructors at your

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TOP TIPS TO HELP STOP THOSE NIGGLES

Andrew Castle and Laura Robson talk tennis with Virgin supremo Sir Richard Branson

local Virgin Active will be able to advise on the best exercises to improve performance. Andrew likes to spice up his workout with different classes and gym ﬂoor exercises. “Interval training is great for the legs and lungs and I have become a believer in yoga, Pilates and group cycle classes. Many of these used to be called ‘alternative’, but they are mainstream now, widely accessible and very valuable. “Strong legs are key to a successful game, with so much court to cover and with so many changes of direction.The leg press machine may seem boring, but the quads are vital – and don’t forget the hamstring to balance things up. “Low impact work is recommended with age so a good swim makes more sense to me than a long run.” It’s important to make sure that any gym work is performed correctly to www.lta.org.uk

avoid unnecessary injuries. It’s worth considering working with a personal trainer – even if it’s only once a month.They are there to help you get the most out of a workout and can advise on the best training programme to suit your needs. Injuries will inevitably occur, so what does Andrew advise? “With tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow on the other side of the arm, then ice, rest, elevation and compression are the order of the day.There are straps and supports that may make your elbow more comfortable during play, but again it is the professionals that know best.Take medical advice for the correct diagnosis and then act on that advice. If you don’t, it may be game over.” To ﬁnd out more about Virgin Active’s unique tennis offering visit: www.virginactive.co.uk BTQ

Gillian Reeves, national group exercise manager at Virgin Active, gives some advice on supplementary exercise you can do to help you improve on court. “Getting fit for any sport means regular practice. This often means specifically working on technique to improve performance during a game. That said, it’s easy to overdo it and play too much in pursuit of improvement, which can lead to niggles and sometimes injury. It’s advisable to add in some different exercise to your routine to complement your sport. It may not be your first passion, but when you see how much better you perform, you’ll start to love it. “To improve your tennis, add some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to your workout routine, either in the gym or at a class, such as Virgin Active’s Puma HIIT. This is a method that has been used for quite some time by athletics coaches, and more recently in mainstream fitness clubs. They often include speed, agility, quickness (SAQ) drills, which will help your tennis game because an essential part of playing well involves the fast-twitch muscle fibres that are trained during this activity.

“The high intensity nature of the class will improve your lactate threshold and VO2 max, meaning that you will be able to endure more lactic acid in your muscles for slightly longer and be aerobically ﬁtter, which may give you the edge over your competitor. “Training to high intensities and training regularly can often lead to tighter muscles, so it’s important to include some stretching into your routine to stay supple. Try a yoga class to

“It’s easy to overdo it and play too much in the pursuit of improvement” improve ﬂexible strength, or include some self myofascial release techniques with a foam roller or tennis ball. “To release the tension in the muscles at the bottom of your feet, put the tennis ball under your foot, press down on the ball and move your foot forwards and back slightly, rolling the ball along the instep of your foot.”

SUMMER 2013

45 47

INSIDER

GET YOUR TENNIS FIX Tennis is as much a part of the British summer as Pimm’s, barbecues or strawberries and cream. And with the sun set to shine, there are plenty of ways for you to get your tennis ﬁx – whether you’re a casual fan, social player or a fanatic

FOLLOWTHE STARS ANDY MURRAY @ANDY_MURRAY LAURA ROBSON @LAURAROBSON5

CASUAL FAN

HEATHER WATSON @HEATHERWATSON92 DAN EVANS @EVO151216 JAMES WARD @JAMESWARDTENNIS COLIN FLEMING @COLIN_FLEMING ROSS HUTCHINS @ROSCOHUTCHINS LIAM BROADY @LIAMBROADY KYLE EDMUND @KYLE8EDMUND OLI GOLDING @OLI_GOLDING

For all you fans of British Tennis there are loads of ways to keep up to date with your favourite players and competitions this summer. First point of call for all the major news should be www.lta.org.uk. But through Twitter you can also keep in touch with what is going on in British Tennis by following the main handle @britishtennis. We will keep you up to date with everything that is going on in British Tennis, from what’s happening in local clubs around the country, to live coverage of our major events, including the Aegon Championships, Aegon International,

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

Aegon Classic, The Championships, Wimbledon, Aegon Trophy and Challenge, and the European Beach Championships. Why not check on what the players are up to directly? How will @laurarobson5 and @HeatherWatson92 be feeling ahead of Wimbledon, or find out how Dan Evans (@Evo151216) is getting on following his Davis Cup heroics. And with the inspiration of the Paralympics still fresh in everyone’s mind, you might want to track its legacy on disability tennis on the road to Rio 2016 by following @TennisFndation. The Tennis Foundation covers everything from wheelchair tennis, deaf tennis, visually

impaired tennis and learning disability tennis, and will keep you up to date with development tournaments up to world-class events. And for a more personal look into the road to Rio why not follow some of our stars of London 2012, such as Gordon Reid (@gordonreid91) and Jordanne Whiley @jordannejoyce92. If Twitter isn’t your thing then why not check out our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/ britishtennislta and get involved in the debate online – we want to hear your opinions.

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SOCIAL PLAYER If you want to be out on the court rather than watching the action there are plenty of ways to dust off your racket and get involved. If you are looking to get back into the swing of things outdoors and soak up the sunshine then your first stop should be to sign up to www.allplaytennis.com. Here you can find your nearest tennis court by using your postcode. You can find somewhere to play, a coach and even someone of a similar standard to play with. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also keen to get your beach body ready and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care whether the ball goes in or out then perhaps Cardio Tennis is the one for you. The fitness craze sweeping the nation is a series of tennis-based drills and activities played to up-tempo music on a tennis court, and you can burn a whopping 600 calories in just an hour! What better way to get fit, have fun and get healthy this summer. If you are

interested in giving Cardio Tennis a go, you can find your nearest sessions and venue on allplaytennis.com. See page 36 for more info on Cardio Tennis. There are also lots of activities for children and families to get involved in, including National Mini Tennis Week, which takes place from 10-16 June. LTA Mini Tennis is the perfect introduction to tennis for children aged between four and ten using smaller courts and rackets, and lower-bouncing balls. See page 20 for more info on Mini Tennis Lastly, if you want to make the most of the sun, sea and sand the British summer has to offer, then why not brush up on your beach tennis? Merging tennis, badminton and volleyball all into one sport, beach tennis can be played by all ages and abilities and is another perfect way to spend time with friends and family while enjoying tennis this summer. See page 25 for info on events this summer.

ll Te hat w s u us enni o yo t s t isIs an nn me #Te

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SUMMER 2013

INSIDER

FANATIC If you’re fanatical about tennis and want to take your hobby to the next level then there’s no time like the present to get started. If you desire the intensity and reward of playing in competitions, or have children who want to test out their skills with their peers, then head to www.lta.org.uk/competition and sign up to find your nearest competitions for both adults and juniors. Once you are on your way in competitions then you can also use the website to check where you rank in Britain. If you would rather pass on your knowledge to the next generation, or help others learn tennis, then head to the BTQ webpage where you can find out how to take the path to becoming a full LTA coach. And it isn’t only adults who can get involved in the coaching side of tennis. The LTA also runs the Tennis Leaders scheme, which is aimed at giving juniors aged

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

13-plus the chance to learn vital leadership skills. There is also plenty of fun to be had with tennis if getting on court and playing isn’t for you. You could become a competition organiser, a referee or an umpire. Who knows, signing up could be your first step to one day officiating at Wimbledon. Young volunteers, club volunteers and people happy to help out at competitions and at local parks and courts are all part of the British Tennis framework and the LTA recognises their hard work and effort. For information on how to volunteer at the LTA and how to get involved in becoming an organiser, please visit the BTQ webpage. For those regularly volunteering in tennis there are opportunities at Wimbledon and other national events, and at the end of the year you might have your contribution recognised at the LTA’s annual Volunteer of the Year Awards. BTQ

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Cardio Tennis will help you attract new players to your programme

Find out how you can become an instructor at allplaytennis.com Tell us what tennis means to you #TennisIs

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VIDEO

QA CONTENT

Q&A WITH ADE ADEPITAN, PARALYMPIAN, SPORTS ENTHUSIAST AND ALL-ROUND GOOD GUY

Ade Adepitan, wheelchair basketball player and Paralympic bronze medallist tells us why tennis is now his game

or more than ten years, Ade Adepitan has been an unmistakeable character in the world of UK sport. Immediately recognisable from his cheeky grin and ﬂowing dreadlocks, the wheelchair basketball legend achieved a lifetime ambition when he took part in the 2000 Paralympics. Four years later he won a bronze medal at the 2004 Games in Athens, nailing two free throws in the dying seconds to beat world champions the USA along the way. Ade, who grew up in East London, co-anchored Channel 4’s coverage of last summer’s Paralympic Games with Clare Balding. He has been a key ﬁgure in promoting disability sport and is a role model to many young players. BTQ caught up with him recently and heard of his passion for tennis, its role in school sports and who he’d most like be his doubles partner. Read on… BTQ

Why do you think tennis is a great sport for disabled people? It’s a fantastic sport because it gets them out of their homes and gives them an opportunity to socialise and travel, but it’s also a great form of fitness. It’s technical, it teaches them chair skills and it’s a lot of fun. I love playing tennis – it’s great! What are the benefits of playing tennis? It’s great cardiovascular exercise and good for concentration and good for your self-esteem, because, like all sports, as you improve you get more confident and that helps you out, both mentally and physically. Do you play any tennis? You could call it tennis, but you might watch it and not think it’s tennis! I love playing tennis. I love the feel of hitting a ball and hitting a winner, getting out and about and playing matches. Hopefully, when I get more time, I’ll play more tennis.

Ade with British tennis stars Jonny Marray, Elena Baltacha and Andy Lapthorne 50

BRITISHTENNIS QUARTERLY

What do you know about Cardio Tennis? I know there is a group of mad people out there who scream and shout every Friday, listening to ’80s music, wearing headbands, running and jumping about with tennis rackets in their hands. Is that Cardio Tennis? It looks fun!

Why is tennis a great sport to play at school? When I was at school, tennis wasn’t easy to access. Finding courts and rackets was quite difﬁcult, but now it’s more available with the Tennis Foundation and the LTA doing more to promote tennis in schools. It’s extremely important because it gives kids another option. At the moment in the UK everything is about football, rugby and cricket, but this is a totally different sport. It’s great for hand-eye co-ordination, and it’s just something different and something they can get excited about. And there are some great, fabulous tennis stars out there and some great wheelchair tennis stars too. Do you think programmes such as LTA Mini Tennis and Cardio Tennis are important for getting people active? They are important for “mini” people and “cardio” people. Mini Tennis is important for young people who are not strong enough to play on the big court, allowing them to work on their technique. It also means their conﬁdence doesn’t drain away when they can’t hit the ball over the net. I think that is very important. Cardio Tennis is

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INSIDER

Who do you think tennis appeals to the most? I think tennis appeals to anyone who likes having fun. I don’t think it should be about what class you are, what gender you are, whether you have a disability or your age. Tennis is for everyone. Anyone can play tennis. Look at me, an old fogey in a wheelchair who has come from a working-class background, and I love playing tennis. great because it seems like a lot of fun, with loud music playing. It’s great exercise. Tennis is about getting ﬁt and getting active, so stop watching TV and start playing tennis!

an exciting player. Also Andy Lapthorne, because you never know what is going to happen with him, and then there’s Shingo Kunieda, the fastest, craziest, maddest player out there.

Who would be your favourite doubles partner? Serena Williams. She’d be great! In wheelchair tennis, Gordon Reid. He’s good and he’s going to be world No.1.

How is the Aegon Schools Tennis programme ensuring a legacy for London 2012? The legacy is about passing on sport to the next generation, so just by getting out there into schools. What was really felt was that in the past we didn’t place as much emphasis on sport as we should have. In schools it was neglected and not enough kids knew about it. They didn’t have access to coaching or equipment. The Aegon Schools Tennis programme is helping to do this. We can find the next wheelchair and nondisabled tennis stars from the UK for the future.

Who is your favourite player? Non-disabled, Roger Federer. That guy is smooth like chocolate. He just plays silky tennis and makes it look so easy. He has a classic backhand and is the ultimate competitor. Every time people say he is old and past it he comes back and wins another Grand Slam. In wheelchair, there are so many good players. Gordon Reid is deﬁnitely up there – he’s www.lta.org.uk

Apart from basketball and tennis, what other sports do you play? I love skiing – it’s amazing – and scuba diving. I’m into all sorts of sports, especially anything that gets me out there and gets the adrenaline pumping. I think that’s what it’s all about, pushing yourself and finding your edges. Do you have any advice for readers who have a disability and think tennis is not for them? Try it. Don’t think about it and read into it that it’s not for me. Go out there and surprise yourself. I love it, when the weather’s warm and you’re outdoors and you’re playing tennis – it’s a great sport. Hitting a forehand down the line, booming a serve and improving your wheelchair skills, it’s wicked! And beating your opponent… actually, it’s not about beating your

opponent, it’s about taking part. Ha, as if! Have you ever been involved with coaching? Is it something that you would like to do? I’ve done a little bit of coaching, but I think you have to not want to be a player any more to want to coach. At the moment I still enjoy playing too much to have the patience to coach. I think it will still be a few more years before I do.

IF YOU’D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON TENNIS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE, VISIT: www.tennisfoundation.org.uk

ANYONE FOR WHEELCHAIR TENNIS?

Scan your Junaio app to enjoy an introduction to wheelchair tennis from Paralympic legends Peter Norfolk and Ade Adepitan.

SUMMER 2013