ROAD TO WIMBLEDON FINALS SET TO COMMENCE AT THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB
More than 150 junior tennis players will compete on the AELTC's Aorangi Park courts from 12-18 August in the county (national) and regional (international) finals of the Road to Wimbledon.
Now in its 17th year, what began as an AELTC initiative to support junior development and grass court tennis has significantly expanded its reach in the UK, and more recently in Asia, since its first staging in 2002.
From April to June, more than 7,500 young players from over 750 clubs, parks and schools took part in the Road to Wimbledon Challenge, a series of fun and social competitions, with the winners of the respective county tournaments securing their place in this week's national county finals.
The UK qualifying leg of the Road to Wimbledon International – open to highly rated British players – was held in June, with the winners earning their place in this week's international regional finals.
They are joined by 16 international players – two girls and two boys from India, China, Hong Kong and Japan – who qualified at events held in their countries between March and May this year.
The first international Road to Wimbledon event was held in India in 2014, and since then has gone from strength to strength, with events added in China in 2016, Hong Kong in 2017 and Japan in 2018. For these international players, the Road to Wimbledon gives them a rare opportunity to play grass court tennis, some for the very first time.
All players competing at the Road to Wimbledon Finals are given the full Wimbledon experience with a tour of the All England Club’s historic Grounds and Museum, and just like their professional counterparts, players wear all white when playing and practising.
Road to Wimbledon Tournament Director and former British Davis Cup Captain Paul Hutchins said: “The AELTC is delighted to once again host these promising junior players from the UK and Asia for the Road to Wimbledon Finals. We know that players competing in the 14 and under age group are reaching a critical time in their development, how motivated they are to progress along a ‘performance’ pathway, and how their standard compares to others both in the UK and internationally.
“Competing here at Wimbledon is a wonderful opportunity for these players to develop their grass court tennis game and we hope to see them return to compete in the junior competitions at The Championships in years to come.”
