Stellar field set for National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Gloucester
London 2012 silver medallist and reigning US Open champion Andy Lapthorne, British women’s number three Louise Hunt and four of Britain’s top five ranked men’s players head a stellar field for the 2014 National Wheelchair Tennis Championships, which returns to Oxstalls Sports Park, Gloucester on 4th to 7th December.
Lapthorne, one of five London 2012 Paralympians in the entry, will also be among those inspiring the next generation of players as the Tennis Foundation National Development Series Finals run alongside the National Championships.
A silver medallist in the quad doubles at London 2012, Lapthorne secured his biggest success in singles competition in New York in September when he won his first Grand Slam quad singles title. The world No. 3 is a two-time National champion and among his strongest opposition for the title this year is world No. 9 Antony Cotterill as well as promising young players James Shaw and Ian Payne.
Lapthorne is one of two British players vying for National titles in Gloucester this weekend on the back of contesting last week’s NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, the sport’s year-end international singles championship, in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.
Also competing at the Masters last week, where he achieved a career best third place finish in the men’s singles was world No. 3 Gordon Reid, who returns to Gloucester after making history at Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre in 2007 when, at the age of 15, he became Britain’s youngest National champion. Also the reigning National men’s champion, Reid, British No. 2 Marc McCarroll, British No. 3 David Phillipson and British No. 4 Alfie Hewett, the world’s leading junior, all arrive in Gloucester currently ranked inside the world’s top 20.
Hunt bids to keep one National title in the west country region when she attempts to win her first women’s singles title in Gloucester. A former multiple women’s doubles National champion and former singles runner-up, the Wanborough 23-year-old also finished her international season last weekend when claiming the women’s doubles title at the Prague Cup Czech Indoor. Hunt is likely to have her strongest opposition from South Wales player Debbie Brazier and Shropshire’s Val Fisher.
Alongside the National Championships, the second Tennis Foundation National Development Series Finals will be contested by developing players who have earned their qualification by accumulating points in a series of tournaments across the country this year, including a Development Series event at Oxstalls Sports Park in June.
Pim Palmen and Steve Crompton contested the men’s singles final on that occasion and they are among the leading contenders for the National Development Series Finals title this weekend, alongside 2013 Development Series Finals winner Keith Thom and runner-up Greg Shea. Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation’s Head of Disability Player Performance, said:
“We are delighted to be bringing the National Championships back to Gloucester for the first time since 2012 and have an extremely exicting four days of tennis ahead, with our elite players set to battle for the National titles, while also inspiring those competing for the men’s and women’s titles in the Development Series Finals.”
He continued:
“It’s been another fantastic year for the players on our Performance Programme and we had a sell-out crowd last weekend for the final day of the Masters in the Olympic Park. With the sport and our players creating that kind of excitement, we hope that lots of local sports fans will take advantage of the opportunity to come and watch for free. An important part of the Championships is to give developing players the chance to compete alongside and watch some of the country’s and the world’s best in action, while also providing an appropriate level of competition. Our ever popular calendar of Development Series events allows for that and demonstrates the competitive pathway and opportunities that are available for players of all abilities.”
