Forty three players from 16 different countries, including a host of top Brits, will contest the men’s, women’s and quad events at the last of seven evens in Britain this year that are part of the global UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour

Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images for Tennis Foundation)

Organised by the Tennis Foundation, Great Britain’s leading tennis charity, the Bath Indoor tournament is in its third year.  Three of the four men’s singles finalists from the 2016 and 2017 events return for the ITF1 Series tournament, including Belgium’s 2016 champion Joachim Gerard and finalist Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina. Currently world ranked No.3, Fernandez became the first South American player to be crowned International Tennis Federation World Champion after ending 2017 at the top of the men’s singles rankings.

Fernandez was a semi-finalist in Bath in 2017, beaten in the last four by Sweden’s Stefan Olsson. Current world No.7 Olsson returns to Bath as two-time Wimbledon champion, having defeated Fernandez in the Men’s Singles Final at SW19 for the past two years.

With world No.5 Stephane Houdet of France also among the leading contenders for the Bath title, current British No.3 Dermot Bailey will lead the domestic challenge after recently becoming a full-time athlete.

Kgothatso Montjane of South Africa (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images for Tennis Foundation)

In the women’s event, British No. 1 and Wimbledon doubles finalist Lucy Shuker once again joins an illustrious cast of top 10-ranked women’s players, which is headed by South Africa’s world No.5 Kgothatso Montjane.

Women’s doubles champion in Bath for the past two years, world No.8 Shuker will partner Germany’s Katharina Kruger this year as she bids to make it a hat-trick of doubles titles. Meanwhile, world No.9 Kruger will also aim to go one better than her countrywoman Sabine Ellerbrock, who finished runner-up in the women’s singles for the past two years.

Alongside two-time Paralympic bronze medallist Shuker, the British challenge for honours in the women’s’ events will include two-time Paralympian Louise Hunt, who once again returns to her former university. Hunt gained a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance from the University of Bath in 2012.

The quad event, for players with an impairment to both upper and lower limbs sees World No.1 David Wagner return to defend his Bath Indoor singles title, heading a field that includes world No.6 Lucas Sithole of South Africa and world No.8 Ymanitu Silva of Brazil. Wagner will be attempting to win his second major title in Britain this season after claiming his fourth British Open title in Nottingham in July.

The British challenge for the quad singles title is led this year by James Shaw, who was runner-up in the inaugural event at Bath Indoor two years ago, as well as Rio Paralympian Antony Cotterill and reigning National champion Richard Green.

Kirsty Thomson, Tennis Foundation Tournament Director, said: “Bath Indoor has become a firm favourite among the world’s top wheelchair tennis players in a relatively short time and its status and its place in the calendar means that it is also an important tournament for many players who are preparing for the year-end Masters championship events in singles and doubles later in November. 

“We are delighted to have another very strong international entry coming to Bath this year and it is an ideal opportunity for anyone who has never seen wheelchair tennis to watch some of the very best in action for free at the world-class sporting facilities at the University of Bath Sports Training Village.”

Stephen Baddeley, Director of Sport at the University of Bath said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome such world-class athletes to our outstanding indoor tennis facilities at the University of Bath.  

“Each year the event offers an opportunity for us to continue our commitment to hosting para-sport and we are sure that, once again, there will be some exciting matches. Wheelchair tennis is such a great sport to watch, so I would encourage spectators – whether staff and students on site or the public of Bath –  to take this opportunity to come and enjoy some truly world-class sport for free.”

As well as members of the public being able to watch the action for free throughout the five days of competition, this year’s Bath Indoor also maintains a strong aspirational element, with the Tennis Foundation giving local school children the opportunity to visit the tournament and try tennis for themselves as well as being inspired by a number of Grand Slam champions and Paralympic medallists.

Interested in giving wheelchair or any other form of disability tennis a go? Get in touch with the Tennis Foundation via info@tennisfoundation.org.uk.

Courtesy of the Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd.

Their successes capped a world-class week of competition at the University of Bath Sports Training Village, where multiple Grand Slam champions and Paralympic medallists served up a host of memorable performances.

The women’s singles final saw defending champion de Groot, who didn’t drop a set all week, ease to a 6-1 6-2 victory over Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock.

It was de Groot’s fourth Bath Indoor trophy in two years, having also retained her women’s doubles title with Britain’s Lucy Shuker after a 6-0 7-5 win against Ellerbrock and the Netherlands’ Marjolein Buis.

Alfie Hewitt (Photo: Matchtight)

Hewett had produced one of those in the men’s singles quarter-finals, recovering from losing the first eight games to beat defending champion Joachim Gerard 0-6 7-6(4) 7-5.

The 2017 Roland Garros champion then overcame Japan’s Takashi Sanada 7-5 6-2 before beating Wimbledon winner Stefan Olsson of Sweden 6-0 6-4 in the final.

“That was probably the best match I’ve played all week,” said Hewett, who was 4-2 down in the second set before taking the last four games to seal the title.

“It was a good first set from me, I was solid, but I knew Stefan would come back. I won a crucial game to hold at 4-2 down and then I was back in the match.

“I’ve taken time off to train and work really hard since reaching the US Open final a couple of months ago, so to perform the way I have this week is really pleasing.”

The first trophy of the week went to world number one Wagner, who took his 11th quad singles title of 2017 with a 6-1 0-6 6-4 victory over Rio 2016 Paralympic champion Dylan Alcott of Australia.

The quad doubles title was won by Ymanitu Silva of Brazil and South Africa’s Lucas Sithole, while a great week was wrapped up by a 7-6(2) 6-2 victory for Gerard and Olsson in the men’s doubles final against Sanada and South Africa’s Evans Maripa.

The Bath Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament is organised by the Tennis Foundation, Great Britain’s leading tennis charity, who also staged a ‘have-a-go’ session for visitors to Saturday’s finals.

The Sports Training Village indoor courts will host another competition this weekend when the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) stage the 2017 Aegon Winter County Cup.

It is Britain’s second-oldest county cup competition, dating back to 1946, and will feature the top men’s and women’s teams from across the country. It runs from Friday to Sunday and spectators are welcome to watch for free, with plans also in place to live-stream the event for the first time.

Team Bath’s all-encompassing tennis programme is one of just four LTA International High Performance Centres in the UK – recognised as having exceptional tennis facilities available to performance athletes (junior and senior), members of the public and students. For more information, visit www.teambath.com/tennis.

Report courtesy of the Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd.

Louise Hunt (Photo: Tennis Foundation)

Paralympic stars and University of Bath alumni head the entry for the inaugural Bath Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament taking place this month.

Held at the world-class University of Bath Sports Training Village, the event will make its debut in the West Country from 15-19 November with a stellar line up of Paralympic medallists and local stars competing for the title. Spectators are welcome and admission is free.

Women’s doubles bronze medallist from Rio Lucy Shuker will be heading the home challenge in the women’s division. Shuker, who currently trains in Taunton, will be joined by fellow Rio Paralympian and University of Bath alumni, Louise Hunt.

“I am really looking forward to competing in Bath this year, I’ve had a recent string of successful tournaments and I feel in a really good place both mentally and physically,” said Shuker.

“Bath is very close to my home training base in Taunton and I’m looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces at the venue supporting me, that is always a benefit of a home tournament.

“I have trained at the University of Bath on a number of occasions. We had a one-week training camp there as part of ParalympicsGB’s ‘year to go’ preparations before London 2012 and I believe there is still a very embarrassing banner in the sports centre from the early days of my career!

“Wheelchair tennis is a fantastic sport to watch and I would highly recommend coming down and checking out some play. The majority of the top players in the world will be action in preparation for the end-of-year Masters event at the Olympic Park in London.

“I’m very proud to be part of not only the most successful ParalympicsGB team ever but also the most successful Tennis Foundation team ever. We’ve all worked really hard as a team and the success in Rio was really down to individuals’ drive and commitment.”

Wiltshire-based Hunt, who gained a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance from the University of Bath in 2012, will be returning to familiar ground as she aims for success in the ITF 1 graded tournament on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

“This will be my last tournament of the year, so I’m looking to finish 2016 on a high,” said Hunt, who represented ParalympicsGB at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.

“I’m really excited to be playing a tournament in Bath this year. It’s my first UK event post Rio, so it’ll be nice to be back on home soil – especially at my University. I always loved attending there and it will be great to compete somewhere I know so well.”

Shuker and Hunt will form part of a strong Women’s draw which features Paralympic Doubles Champion and Singles silver medallist world No. 2 Aniek Van Koot from the Netherlands and Paralympic Doubles Silver Medallist and French Open Champion Marjolein Buis, also from the Netherlands.

In the men’s draw double Paralympic silver medallist Alfie Hewett will lead the British charge against a strong field featuring six of the top 10 players in the world. Paralympic bronze medallist Joachim Gerard will be using Bath as preparation for his NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters title defence at the end of November.

There will also be British Paralympic stars in the Quad division (for players with an impairment in three or more limbs), as Rio silver and bronze medallist Andy Lapthorne heads the draw.

Alongside the world class sport, the Tennis Foundation will also be running a free Come and Try Session on Saturday 19^th November from 11-1pm. The session caters for all abilities, disabled and non-disabled and everyone is encouraged to come along and try out the game. Coaches will be on hand to give tips and all equipment is provided free of charge.

Report courtesy of the Tennis Foundation via Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd