Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley MBE (Photo: onEdition)

In partnership with children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust, Lucy will join a group of international athletes from other sports such as cricket, football and golf, who will use their voice and public profile to reinforce the importance of physical education and school sport to young people and communities.

Current data shows one third of children are active for less than 30 minutes a day. The LTA – who launched the primary school strand of their LTA Youth programme earlier this year – have been campaigning for greater priority to be given to PE and sport in schools, so that all children can be active for an average of 60 minutes a day, in line with the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation for 5 -16 year olds.

Lucy will be part of a ‘National Team’ of athletes who will champion the vision that every young person is able to enjoy the life changing physical and mental health benefits, social development and resilience that come from play, physical education and sport. Already in great company, Lucy will join the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes – who was appointed the first ever ‘National School Sport Champion’ in 2008.

As part of her role, Lucy will be supporting Youth Sport Trust’s ‘National School Sport Week at Home’ next week – helping young people and families up and down the country engage in a week of virtual sporting challenges from their home. The role will also see Lucy visiting schools and community groups throughout the rest of the year, to inspire and motivate young people to get involved in sport and physical activity.

Speaking about her involvement, Lucy commented: “I’m incredibly honoured to have been asked to become National School Sport Champion for tennis by the LTA. I feel extremely passionate about young people being active and reaping the benefits that go with that. Both before my accident and ever since, sport has played an important part in my life and I believe I can help to encourage more young people to get active and try different sports through sharing my own experiences. After my accident, sport enabled me to better discover what I was still able to do, push my limits, as well as become physically stronger which in turn, helped me to cope better on a daily basis with my disability.

“I feel proud that I am now in a position where I can use my experiences to help inspire future generations to take part in physical activity, whatever that might be. Sport is such an invaluable learning environment and has so many proven physical and mental benefits, it’s such an amazing feeling to see children giving any sport a go and hearing and seeing the fun they experience. We are a sporting nation and we must continue to inspire young people to take part in sport to continue to develop future champions who in turn will inspire future generations.”

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver added: “We are thrilled that Lucy has been appointed ‘National School Sport Champion’. Sport has such a crucial role to play in promoting young people’s wellbeing and this has never been more apparent than it is now. We look forward to working with the LTA and Lucy to help more young people and communities across the UK enjoy the life changing benefits that come from sport and Physical Education.”

To get involved with ‘National School Sport Week at Home’, head to www.youthsporttrust.org/nssw. To download LTA Youth materials and resources to use throughout the week click here.

Courtesy of the LTA

Reigning US Open champion Alfie Hewett faces a rematch of September’s men’s singles final in New York against world No. 1 Shingo Kunieda when the four-strong Brit wheelchair tennis challenge begins on Wednesday at the Australian Open.

While Hewett begins his bid for back-to-back Grand Slam singles crowns against Japan’s defending Australian Open champion, 2016 champion and fellow Brit Gordon Reid will play Stephane Houdet of France, the 2018 runner-up to Kunieda at Melbourne Park.

Ahead of his first match since winning the US Open in September, world No.3 Hewett said: “I’ve come back from having a break and I’m feeling motivated to perform and where that leads I’m excited to find out. I’ve had an intense training period leading up to Australia. My fitness was always maintained, so physically I feel like I’m fresh and in a good place. However, when you take time away from the sport its surprising how quickly you lose little things about your game. So I’ve had to work hard to get back up to a level where I feel like I can really challenge for the title.”

World No.7 Reid won the first Grand Slam singles title of his career in Australia three years ago and is relishing his return to Melbourne, which will see him play world No.3 Houdet in his opening singles and doubles matches. He said:

“I love coming back to Melbourne Park, they have improved the facilities once again and it’s fantastic for all the players. Seeing the singles trophy up close again during the draw ceremony brought back great memories from 2016.”

While Hewett begins his 2019 season this week, Reid has already played two tournaments this season, the first of which brought his latest Super Series doubles title when he partnered Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez to win the Bendigo Open. He now turns his attention to attempting to win back-to-back Grand Slam doubles titles with Hewett as the two-time US Open and three-time Wimbledon champions reunite.

“Over the last few months I’ve played with a few different partners while Alfie had his break. So I’m looking forward to being back on the doubles court with him and aiming to win our first Aussie Open doubles title as a team,”

Hewett and Reid will play Houdet and Australian Ben Weekes in their semi-final.

Five-timeAustralian Open doubles champion Andy Lapthorne opens his bid for a first quad singles title at Melbourne Park against his doubles partner and world No.2 David Wagner of the USA. Lapthorne was runner-up to Wagner at last week’s ITF 1 Melbourne Open.

World No.3 and 2014 US Open quad singles champion Lapthorne, who was runner-up to Wagner at last week’s ITF 1 Melbourne Open, said: “I feel like I’m playing OK right now and getting some good results and performances, so I’m looking forward to really trying to bring my best tennis to the singles court this year. It’s always a buzz coming back to Australia and knowing I’ve won lots of titles here and I’m looking to add to that this week. As far as David and I go in doubles, we are a good team and well prepared for our latest chance at another Grand Slam together.”

After facing Wagner, Lapthorne will also play Australians Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson in the four-ay round robin phase of the quad singles competition The top two players after the round-robin will go forward to Saturday’s quad singles final. Later this week Lapthorne and Wagner will also play Alcott and Davidson as the Anglo-American duo and reigning US Open champions attempt to win their fourth Australian Open quad doubles title in six years.

Of the four Brits competing in the wheelchair events at Melbourne Park this week world No. 7 Shuker has the most experience of the first Grand Slam of the year. Shuker will be playing her tenth Australian Open and faces a tough assignment in her opening women’s singles match on Wednesday when she takes on world No.1 Diede de Groot. She said:

“I’m extremely proud to have qualified for this Grand Slam for the tenth time. It’s a stat I can be proud of. I’ve had some great results and performances here over the years, being twice a singles semi-finalist and twice a doubles finalist. The Australian Open is definitely one of my favourite tournaments in the calendar, there is always a real buzz in Melbourne during the Slam.”

After contesting her latest Grand Slam doubles final at Wimbledon last July partnering Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock, Shuker partners South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane this week. Shuker and Montjane will play Ellerbrock and Dutchwoman Marjolein Buis in their semi-final.

Courtesy of the LTA

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.

Sunday’s final saw Shuker contest her first Grand Slam final for five years, partnering Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock in the Ladies Doubles final.

After successive straight sets semi-final defeats over the last four years in the Wimbledon doubles event, Shuker and Ellerbrock defied the odds to defeat Dutch second seeds Marjolein Buis and Aniek van Koot 3-6-4, 6-4 in this year’s semi-finals. That win saw Shuker playing some outstanding tennis, while her renowned attitude and determination was very much reflected in her partnership with Ellerbrock.

In the final, the duo pushed eventual champions and top seeds Diede de Groot and Yui Kamiji in the vast majority of games, something not reflected in the 6-1, 6-1 score line against a pair who are the world’s top two ranked singles players.

Speaking after the match, the British No.1 said “For me I’ve been longing to be in a final again for a long time at the Grand Slams, and to do it at Wimbledon is unreal. It’s humbling to be here and it’s an honour. I knew that it was going to be really tough playing against Yui and Diede because they are the number one seeds and they are very strong. Making the final was really great – it’s a shame we couldn’t get the win but they deserved it today”.

Shuker, who was injured in a motorcycle accident shortly after her 21 birthday, is the most physically impaired athlete among the world’s top 10 ranked women of a sport that she says has “transformed my life”, telling the BBC’s Claire Balding after the match, which was screened live on BBC2, “wheelchair tennis has given me the opportunity to realise so many dreams, it really is amazing”.st

Buoyed after reaching her first Grand Slam final for five years, she is relishing the opportunity to once again challenge barriers and perceptions at next week’s British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Nottingham. At that event the Britain will partner Dana Mathewson of the USA in the women’s doubles, as well as seeking success in the women’s singles. She returns to Nottingham on the back of winning the mixed doubles title at last year’s Super Series event.

Looking ahead to the event, Shuker said “It will be a totally different surface back on the hard court, which for me in singles will be a lot easier with the movement. Obviously we haven’t got long before we are competing, just one day so it will be tough. I think my tennis is going really well and I feel confident so I’m looking forward to it.’

Shuker’s achievement in reaching her first Grand Slam final since the 2013 Australian Open was part of much wider Brit success at Wimbledon this year, with Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid completing a hat-trick of Gentlemen’s Doubles titles. Meanwhile, Andy Lapthorne was on the winning side of the net in the first-ever quad doubles match to the be staged at Wimbledon after the Londoner partnered American David Wagner to an historic exhibition match win in the journey of a sport that is continually breaking new barriers.

All of the Wimbledon wheelchair tennis finalists will be among the world’s top players heading to Nottingham for the British Open. Since 1995 the tournament has had Super Series status, making it one of the sport’s six most important tournaments outside of the Grand Slams.

Tickets for the event at Nottingham Tennis Centre are being made available free of charge by the Tennis Foundation, with the tournament already set for a record crowd as the Nottingham public embrace the opportunity of seeing the Wimbledon stars in action.

The British Open takes place from from 17 – 22 July. – www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/BritishOpen

Courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

From 5-2 down in the third and deciding set of the final the second seeds launched a stirring comeback to edge out Dutch top seeds Marjolein Buis and Aniek van Koot 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. It was the second title in as many weeks for Shuker and de Groot, who also beat Buis and van Koot in the final of last week’s ITF 1 Georgia Open. Shuker and de Groot are now unbeaten in five tournaments together.

“I know I’ve said it before, but I absolutely love playing with Diede, we know how we need to play and even when things aren’t working we work really well together to find our form. Today we were 5-2 down in the third and even faced a match point, but I know with Diede we will always keep fighting and working,” said Shuker, who has now won the women’s doubles at the last three Super Series tournaments, in St. Louis in September 2017 and in Sydney and Baton Rouge this season.

Great Britain’s world No.1 Alfie Hewett added a new career landmark to his impressive list of wheelchair tennis achievements on Sunday when he won the first men’s singles Super Series title of his career at the Cajun Classic in Baton Rouge, USA. Hewett beat Shingo Kunieda of Japan 6-3, 7-6(6) in Sunday’s final.

Hewett, who won his first Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros in June last year, capped a superb week as he defended his crown in Baton Rouge without dropping a set.

Twelve months ago Hewett claimed what was then the second ITF 1 Series singles title of his career at the Cajun Classic. The tournament has been upgraded to Super Series status this year, becoming one of the six most prestigious standalone wheelchair tennis events outside of the four Grand Slams, which means Hewett’s successful title defence therefore earns him even more points to strengthen his world No.1 ranking.

“He’s (Kunieda) beaten me the last couple of times so I was really up for today, even though I felt tired. I really wanted to get on court and prove a point. He’s had a really good start to the year and played some his best tennis for a long, long while. I knew it was going to be tough and I came out and played some of my best tennis,” said 20-year-old Rio Paralympic silver medallist Hewett after claiming his third career win over two-time Paralympic champion and reigning Australian Open champion Kunieda.

“I really focussed on process goals and they paid off this week. I haven’t dropped a set and that’s a very big thing for me, so I can go home very, very happy.”

Photo above shows Lucy Shuker (right) and Diede de Groot, 2016 Doubles Masters women’s champions

For more information about the Tennis Foundation, please, visit http://www.tennisfoundation.org.uk or get in touch via info@tennisfoundation.org.uk.

Report courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

The International Tennis Federation’s season-ending championship for the world’s top wheelchair singles players will be hosted once again in Great Britain by the Tennis Foundation, with this year’s event being held from 29 November to 3 December at Loughborough University Tennis Centre.

The British quartet are among a star-studded list of 22 players from 11 different nations who will be battling for honours, including multiple Paralympic medallists and Grand Slam champions.  Qualification for each of the men’s, women’s and quad singles is based on ranking points achieved across what has been another sensational season for players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme.

No other country will be represented by more players at the prestige event than Great Britain, with only the Netherlands matching the British total of four players.

World No.3 and Roland Garros champion Alfie Hewett, is relishing the opportunity to challenge for more silverware:  “It’s been a great season for me and I’m looking forward to trying to finish the year on a high. It’s always great to play in front of a good crowd and being a home event it means that little bit extra. The top eight is really open this year, so it’s going to be very interesting.”

Looking ahead to Loughborough, 2016 NEC Masters finalist Gordon Reid said: “I’ve had a mixed year, but I’ve had a bit of a break since the US Open so I feel refreshed and I’m looking forward to getting back to competing. If you’ve not seen wheelchair tennis before, come and give it a go – there are plenty of British players to support, so come and make some noise for us.”

In the women’s singles, British No.1 Lucy Shuker is looking forward to competing again in front of a passionate home crowd: “I’m very excited that I’ll be once again competing alongside the very best wheelchair tennis players in the world. The Tennis Foundation has really raised the level of the event so I’m looking forward to experiencing another memorable Masters tournament.”

In the quad singles, Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne will be aiming to overcome nine-time champion David Wagner to win his first Masters title. Lapthorne said: “This has been a pretty good year for me, probably one of the best of my career other than winning a singles Grand Slam. My eyes all year have been on that year-end world No. 1 ranking, so my aim is win the Masters and see where that takes me.”

In staging the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in Loughborough, the Tennis Foundation is using the event as a platform to both raise the profile of tennis as a sport for disabled people and drive wider participation in tennis in the region.

As part of a community outreach programme, special arrangements are in place for schools and community groups who wish to attend the 2017 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. Any formally organised group of people such as clubs, societies, voluntary organisations and charities are also welcome – groups can find out more at www.wheelchairtennismasters.com.

Report courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

Lucy Shuker and Stephane Houdet (Photo: Tennis Foundation)

On the other side of the net to Shuker in the mixed doubles final was Hewett and his partner Dana Mathewson of the USA, and together with Houdet the quartet played out a competitive encounter that enthralled the Nottingham crowd.

After trading some superb winning shots it was Shuker and Houdet who claimed the first set before.  Hewett and Mathewson hit back in the second and led 5-4.  However, Shuker and Houdet held their serve and then broke to take the 2017 title with a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

Commenting on the win, Britain’s women’s No.1 Shuker said: “It was really good fun, Stephane is a great partner to play with and is always encouraging.  Dana and Alfie played really well but for me today it was just total enjoyment.”

There had been high hopes for British success going into the final day of the ITF Super Series tournament at Nottingham Tennis Centre, with Hewett and Lapthorne both having reached singles finals.

Hewett started off the day taking on world No.1 Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina.  Despite having lost the first four games there were hopes of another famous Hewett comeback when he levelled at 4-4, but Fernandez reeled off the next five games to take the first set and lead 3-0 in the second.  Hewett again turned the momentum round to level at 3-3 but the power of the big-hitting Fernandez saw him complete a 6-4, 6-3 win to claim his first British Open title.

Hewett was followed on Centre Court by Andy Lapthorne in the Quad Doubles final against world No.1 David Wagner from the USA.  Things looked promising for the world No.2 early on as he matched Wagner to reach 3-3 in the first set, before the impressive American, fresh from having won the quad doubles on Saturday, won eight games in a row to seal a 6-3, 6-1 win and regain a title he last won in 2009.

Yui Kamiji (Photo: Tennis Foundation)

It looked like an upset was on the cards in the women’s singles final as Diede de Groot of the Netherlands raced into a 3-0 lead against Japan’s world No.1 Yui Kamiji.  However, Kamiji’s sheer effort around the court helped her to turn it around to win the next six games to claim the first set, before going on to win the title 6-3, 6-4.

The future of wheelchair tennis in Great Britain looks to be bright with a hugely increased entry in the Tennis Foundation’s British Open junior tournament.  Scotland’s Ruiari Logan retained his boys singles title with a 4-0, 4-0 win against Northern Ireland’s Ross Gourley, and then added to his burgeoning trophy collection by partnering fellow Scot Ellie Robinson to take the British Open junior mixed doubles title 4-0, 4-0.

Junior winners and runners up pose during the British Open Wheelchair Tennis (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

In a closely fought girl’s singles final, Wales’ Fran Smith eventually prevailed against Nottingham’s local hope Abbie Breakwell to win with a deciding tiebreak 4-5, 4-1, 10-8.

Sunday’s action in Nottingham completed the list of 2017 British Open champions, with the men’s, women’s and quad doubles titles having been decided on Saturday.

British Open 2017 Champions

Women’s Singles – Yui Kamiji (JPN)

Men’s Singles – Gustavo Fernandez (ARG)

Quad Singles – David Wagner (USA)

Women’s Doubles – Marjolein Buis / Diede De Groot (NED)

Men’s Doubles – Nicolas Peifer / Stephane Houdet (FRA)

Mixed Doubles – Lucy Shuker (GBR) / Stephane Houdet (FRA)

Quad Doubles – Bryan Barten / David Wagner (USA)

Girls Singles – Fran Smith (WAL)

Boys Singles – Ruiari Logan (SCO)

Boys Singles (Division 2) – Ben Bartram (ENG)

Junior Mixed Doubles – Ruiari Logan / Ellie Robertson (SCO)

Organised by the Tennis Foundation, the British Open is one of six Super Series events on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour and one of the most important tournaments in the world outside of the Grand Slams.

World class wheelchair tennis will return to the East Midlands at the end of the year after Loughborough University was announced on Friday as the venue for the prestigious end of season NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters tournament from 29 November – 3 December 2017.

The Tennis Foundation is Great Britain’s leading tennis charity, with a vision to make tennis a sport which is inclusive and accessible to all. It works to open up tennis to its priority audiences of disabled people, young people in education and in lower socio-economic communities – making it possible for them to enjoy the many health and social benefits of the sport whilst maximising their personal potential.

To find out more about disability tennis or the wider work of the Tennis Foundation, visit www.tennisfoundation.org.uk or get in touch via info@tennisfoundation.org.uk.

Report courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

Shuker battled hard in the second set but it wasn’t to be and a difficult day got worse for Lucy when alongside Lauren Jones her women’s doubles challenge come to an end as Ellerbrock and Manami Tanaka of Japan booked their place in the semi-finals 6-0, 6-3.

Lapthorne, Reid and Hewett continue Brit success at British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships Rio Paralympic quad singles silver medallist

Andy Lapthorne moved into the quad singles semi-finals on Wednesday’s second day of the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships at Nottingham Tennis Centre.

Further British success at the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour Super Series event, organised by the Tennis Foundation, included Rio gold and silver medallists Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett booking their places in the men’s singles quarter-finals before combining to reach the men’s doubles semi-finals. Lapthorne, twice a quad singles finalist at the Nottingham Super Series tournament in recent years, produced a confident performance to beat Brazil’s Ynamitu Silva 6-1, 6-4.

The world No.2 now faces South Africa’s world No. 4 Lucas Sithole in a bid to reach another British Open final.     “I’m not sure how many years in a row now that I’ve reached the semis here, but it’s a good few years.  I’m looking to reach the final and hopefully get over the line this time, having been very close in the last few years,” said Lapthorne.

Hopes of an all-British quad singles semi-final came to an end when Sithole defeated world No.9 Antony Cotterill 6-2 as all four seeds advanced to the last four. Meanwhile, local interest in the quad singles and doubles came to an end, with Ruddington’s James Shaw seeing his hopes of joining Lapthorne in the last four fade with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to American world No. 1 David Wagner. Wagner plays Australian fourth seed Heath Davidson in his semi-final.

Shaw also went out of the quad doubles, partnering Japan’s Shota Kawano. Despite a fine effort they bowed out to the more experienced partnership of Davidson and Sithole 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

Paralympic gold medallist Reid opened his bid to reach a third British Open men’s singles final by defeating Brazil’s Daniel Rodrigues 6-4, 6-2. Britain’s world No.2 plays French sixth seed Nicolas Peifer in Thursday’s quarter-finals. “It was tough conditions today, it was very windy, but it was the same for both of us and I feel I played some decent tennis given the conditions.  So overall I’m pretty happy and I’m looking forward to my quarter-final against Nico,” said Reid. Meanwhile, world No.3 Hewett will play former British Open champion Joachim Gerard of Belgium on Thursday after a 6-0, 6-0 victory over fellow teenage Brit Ruairi Logan. “I definitely think it was the kind of match that Ruairi can use to measure where’s he’s at in his game,” said Rio Paralympic silver medallsit Hewett. “He played some really good points today and has got a bright future. I’ve been in his position before and at this level you cannot give anything and I didn’t today. So I’m glad to be in the quarter-finals and it’s on to the next challenge.“

Two-time Wimbledon doubles champions Hewett and Reid later started their challenge for a second British Open men’s doubles title with a hard won 7-5, 6-4 victory over Dutchman Tom Egberink and Shingo Kunieda of Japan to book their places in the semi-finals. Second seeds Hewett and Reid take on third seeds Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina and Maikel Scheffers of the Netherlands next.

Aside from Hewett and Reid having reached Friday’s men’s doubles semi-finals, Thursday’s third day of play at the British Open will see Cotterill and Lapthorne get their turn as they start their quad doubles challenge. The reigning Doubles Masters champions and second seeds will play Davidson and Sithole. Tickets are available on the gate at Nottingham Tennis Centre all week.   Entry is free for children, with adult tickets priced just £2 for a weekday ground pass and £5 for a Saturday/Sunday (finals weekend) ground pass.  For more details, or to purchase tickets online in advance, visit www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/britishopen.

Gordon Reid (Photo: Tennis Foundation)

With four Brits on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme lining up for the men’s, women’s and quad singles and doubles events this year in Melbourne, Alfie Hewett will make his Australian Open debut against world No.2 Stephane Houdet of France, while Lucy Shuker faces her doubles partner Marjolein Buis of the Netherlands.

The four-way quad singles round-robin begins with world No.3 Andy Lapthorne playing his doubles partner, the USA’s world No.2 David Wagner.

World No.8 Lucy Shuker is set to begin her eighth Australian Open against Buis after reaching successive women’s singles quarter-finals so far this year in which she has had close results against world No. 6 Diede de Groot and world No.2 Yui Kamiji.

Lucy Shuker (Photo: Tennis Foundation)

“I feel like I’ve been playing some pretty good tennis out here in Australia in the first two tournaments of the year. I pushed Diede in Sydney, going to a final set tie-break, and had chances in the match against Yui in Melbourne, so I’m looking forward to my eighth Australian Open,” said Shuker.

“The last time I played here with Marjolein in doubles we made the final, so I’m looking forward to playing together again after facing each other on Wednesday.”

Shuker and Buis will take on Dutch top seeds Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot in their quest to reach a second Australian Open women’s doubles final after finishing runners-up to the same partnership in 2013.

Reid has reached the semi-finals and final, respectively, in his first two men’s singles events of the year at the Sydney Open Super Series and the ITF 2 Melbourne Open. Most recently he finished runner-up to Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina on Saturday at the Melbourne Open. Reid bowed out against British No. 2 Hewett in the semi-finals in Sydney but then beat Hewett in the semi -finals last week.

Alfie Hewett (Photo: Tennis Foundation)

“I had a disappointing start to this Australian trip, but managed to up my level in Melbourne in difficult conditions. So I arrive at Melbourne Park in a good place ready to defend my title ,” said Reid, who wo his first Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne 12 months ago before going on to win the inaugural men’s singles title at Wimbledon.

“It is obviously a different situation than I’ve ever been in before, coming to a Grand Slam as defending champion. But seeing the courts here brings back great memories and gets me excited to start competing here again.”

After reaching his first Super Series singles final in Sydney, having beaten Reid for the very first time, Hewett is relishing his debut at Melbourne Park against Houdet. “It’s been a pretty positive start to 2017 for me after beating Gordon to reach my first Super Series final in Sydney and then going to three sets with him at the Melbourne Open.

“So after doing that against the world No.1 I’m really excited to be at the Australian Open for the first time and I’m looking for another big performance against the world No.2 on Wednesday,” said Hewett.

Andy Lapthorne (Photo: Tennis Foundation)

Lapthorne began 2017 by defeating Wagner in his very first match of the year in Sydney two weeks ago, before finishing runner-up in a four-way round robin featuring the same three players he will face this week. While Lapthorne will hope to repeat that result on Wednesday he then goes on to face Australians Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson.

The top two players at the end of the round-robin will meet again in the final. Former US Open quad singles champion Lapthorne also pairs up with Wagner in a bid to win their third Australian Open quad singles title together.  He is also a former two-time quad doubles champion in Melbourne with fellow Brit Peter Norfolk.

“I’m excited to be going after title number five in doubles, which would be very special, and looking to try and go one better than my past attempts in singles here,” said Lapthorne.

There is the possibility of two Brits being in the men’s doubles final, with Reid and Gerard set to play the Australian-Dutch combination of Ben Weekes and Maikel Scheffers in their semi-final. Hewett and Fernandez will play French top seeds Houdet and Nicolas Peifer in the other semi-final.

Report courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

Lucy’s life changed forever in 2001 when, just 12 days after getting her motorbike licence she was in an horrific accident that left her paralysed from the chest down.

Having previously been a keen horse rider and talented badminton player the accident served only temporarily to slow her down and a meeting with Paralympic Gold Medallist Pete Norfolk set her on the path to become a highly talented wheelchair tennis player.

Despite being one of the more disabled players on the tour, Lucy has competed among the World’s best at all four major tennis Grand Slams and represented Great Britain at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Paralympics, and now she is getting set for Rio.

Having achieved the bronze medal in London, Lucy is now aiming for gold in Rio alongside her GB doubles player Jordanne Whiley and she is working hard to achieve that dream.

We caught up with Lucy after training – here is the full Q&A session:

4tlos: How are you preparing for Rio:

Lucy: My training base is at Taunton Tennis Club however I also attend National Training at both Bisham Abbey and the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. I recently attended a two week doubles camp at Bisham Abbey.

4tlos: What is a normal day for you?

Lucy: I do 2 hours individual tennis training with my coach, then I’ll take a lunch break or have 1 hour fitness training. This is followed by another 2 hours training in the afternoon – perhaps with academy squad players in Taunton (it is very valuable to be able to play with different players).  Then I will take a break and finish off with an hour in the gym.

I usually train Monday to Friday and then take a couple of days for rest and recovery over the weekend – since I always have to be aware that only one quarter of my body is working and even on rest days my upper body is getting a work-out.

4tlos: How do you spend your rest days?

Lucy: I may take a massage, spend time with friends and family, go shopping or do admin, (boring but necessary).

4tlos: We are coming up to Roland Garros – and the clay court season, but which surface is your favourite?

Lucy: The easiest surface for me is a hard court but I really enjoy playing on clay and the high bounce gives me a chance to get my shots in – I use a lot of top spin and also drop shots.

Equally, it will be a challenge to play at Wimbledon this year in the Singles event as this is the first year that singles is featured for wheeelchair tennis, previously it has been a doubles only event. I have been fortunate to play in 3 finals at the Championships but I would of course love to claim a title at my home Grand Slam. It will be tough for us playing singles on the grass, I imagine that there won’t be any long rallies – it will be pretty much serve/volley.

Each of the surfaces throws up different challenges but I love playing tennis and enjoy playing whatever the surface.

4tlos: Your doubles partner for GB events is Jordanne Whiley, do you have one particular player you will partner with for Roland Garros and Wimbledon?

Lucy: At Roland Garros I will double with Dutch player Marjolein Buis – we play well together, complement each other well and I am looking forward to it.

However, for Wimbledon, we are waiting to see who gets the wild card.  The Grand Slam tournaments consist of the top 7 seeded players and then a wild card, I will either play with Marjolein again or with German player Sabine Ellerbrock – we wait and see, wild cards will be announced soon.

Source: Lucy Shuker

Lucy: Yes of course, but it’s something I work on with my sports psychologist.

4tlos: It’s good to see that in wheelchair tennis there is an even split between men and women in the Grand Slam events, is it always like that?

Lucy: In the Paralympics the split between male and female athletes is 64/32.

4tlos: I notice that you are raising funds for your trip to Rio – do all wheelchair tennis players struggle for the funding required in order to get to these major events?

Lucy: We receive funding from the Tennis Federation (British Wheelchair Federation) and the Lottery Fund, however, I would like to be able to take my personal coach with me to Rio and obviously that involves 3 weeks salary, accommodation and flights, hence the need to fund-raise.

The Federation will provide a national coach, physio, massage therapist, but it would make all the difference to me to be able to have my personal coach with me.

4tlos: Prize money is increasing at the Grand Slam events is that helping?

Lucy: Of course, and Wimbledon have just raised the bar again, but there isn’t a limitless supply of money out there and it’s a huge way off from able-bodied sport. It is a struggle travelling the world and competing in the number of events necessary in order to maintain a high ranking, which enables automatic qualification to the majors.  Sometimes we barely manage to cover the costs of getting to events but I love what I am doing and feel lucky to be in this position.

4tlos: What are your ambitions beyond Rio?

Lucy: I would like to make it to the Tokyo Paralympics, I hope I have 4 to 5 years left to be able to compete at a high level.  After that I would like to give back to this sport that has already given me so much.

At the moment I do a number of public appearances, which may involve going into schools to talk to children or businesses as a motivational speaker. Taunton Tennis Club also has a wheelchair club and I enjoy meeting people new to wheelchair tennis as it’s a sport that has given so much to my life.

4tlos: Finally, do you have any time to follow other sports and do you have any sporting role models?

Lucy: I enjoy following all kinds of sports and recently I watched Amir Khan hoping he would win his match.  I also love to watch able-body tennis and think that Rafa Nadal is a great role model.  He is always so respectful on court and he works amazingly hard and never gives up.

4tlos: Have you met Rafa?

Lucy: I have been lucky enough to meet many of the top players, its exciting to play at the Grand Slams where you are competing alongside the top names in the sport, sharing the facilities and locker rooms with them. I met Rafa at Wimbledon a few years ago.

I would also like to give credit/respect to Andy Murray, another really hard working tennis player who gave up some of his personal ambitions on court last year in order to help the GB Davis Cup team win.

Both these players are great motivators for youngsters coming through.

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We would like to thank Lucy for giving her time to talk to us and wish her all the best for Roland Garros, Wimbledon and of course Rio. We look forward to following her successes and reporting it here.

One final comment from us on the differences between able body and wheelchair tennis – it seems ironic that the top tennis players earn a fortune and are followed around the world by a considerable entourage, while a wheelchair tennis player cannot afford to have their own coach, let alone physio, massage therapist – people you would think to be essential to the comfort and well-being of these athletes.  The world is a very strange place.

If you would like to support Lucy in her fund raising you can contribute here: https://www.pledgesports.org/projects/wheelchair-tennis-sponsorship-lucy-shuker/

And if you are inspired by Lucy’s story and would like to find out about her and her many achievements you can visit her website here.