BTQ: Issue 10

Download the freeJunaio app to viewour exclusive videocontent. See page 3

for details

WINTICKETS

TOTHEO2!See page 5 for your chance to wintickets to see the top stars at theBarclays ATP World Tour Finals

BTQ SPECIAL:

WHATANDWHERE

TOWATCH

A comprehensive roundupof all the must-see eventsthis summer

PAGE 23

BTQ SPECIAL:

GLORYOFGRASS

WITHGREGANDTIM

Two tennis legends sharetheir favourite memories ofplaying on the green stuff

PAGE 32

BTQ SPECIAL:

SUMMERTENNIS

SURVIVALGUIDE

All you need to know aboutplaying, watching andloving tennis

PAGE 34

ISSUE 10 SUMMER 2013

COMEON, ANDY!Britain’s No.1 talks about

his amazing year andhis hopes for Wimbledon

“IT’S A FANTASTIC SPORT”Paralympian medallist and

TV presenter Ade Adepitan onhis love for disabled tennis

GETTINGACTIVEAndrew Castle on why a new

fitness regime can bebeneficial to your game

MAKE IT ASMASH-HITSUMMER!

All the tournaments, all the action and a certainMr Murray – our summer tennis special has

everything you need to ensure you don’t miss out

MYVIDEOWALL // JUDYMURRAY SPEAKS // DRESS LIKEAWINNER //WELLBEINGAND FITNESS // ANDMORE!

Cover 223 x 220.indd 1Cover 223 x 220.indd 1 03/06/2013 10:3003/06/2013 10:30

LTASUMMEREVENTSAPPDownload 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

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VIEW EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CONTENTIf 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 Junaio1. Open the Junaio app on yourmobile or tablet.

2. Click on themagnifying 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.

3www.lta.org.uk SUMMER2013

WELCOME

Follow us on Twitter @britishtennis

Welcome to the sizzling summer edition ofBritish Tennis Quarterly, themagazine thatkeeps you updated with all things tennis inBritain. Whether you’re a casual fan, social

player, tennis fanatic or a little of each, we really do havesomething for everyone.We’ve got a survival guide for the summer, a reminder

of what British No.1 and world No.2 AndyMurrayhas been up to for the past 12months, and somecracking coaching tips for all levels, among plenty ofother treats.We’ll help you discovermore about National Mini

Tennis Week (page 20), give you some handy tips in theCoaching Corner (page 42) and let you know about someof the work the Lawn Tennis Association is doing to helpmore people play tennis, more often (page 6).As ever, we bring you some great regular features,

including JudyMurray talking us through her summerplans. We also speak to Ade Adepitan in our Q&A and get

some great advice from Andrew Castle on how to stayhealthy 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 ofvideos scattered throughout this issue, which you can viewusing your smartphone – check out the new-lookMy VideoWall, which includes some great videos from our Aegon GBFed and Davis Cup teams, and see British stars doing theHarlem Shake. See the box at the top of this page fordetails 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 ATPWorld Tour Finalsat The O2.

Enjoy this issue of BTQ and, as always, if you haveany questions, feedback, or you want to shareyour story with us, email [email protected].

The BTQ Team

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Cover:GettyImages

CONTENTSISSUE 10 SUMMER 2013

6

SPECIALSECTION

By submitting photographs, videos orany other content filmed, recorded ortaken (the Content) to British TennisQuarterly, you hereby grant and assignto the LTA the right to make, useand show the Content in any formatfrom time to time (including but notlimited to in British Tennis Quarterlyor on www.lta.org.uk) in connectionwith the promotion of British Tennis orthe LTA without compensation. Suchpromotional activities by the LTA shallnot be identified as or representedto be an endorsement by you (or anyindividuals featured in the Content)of any product or company. If you aresubmitting Content featuring otherindividuals, you warrant that you haveobtained the consent of such individualsto your submission of the Content andhave ensured such individuals haveread and agreed to this statement. Ifyou are submitting Content featuringany children, you also warrant that youhave obtained the consent of the parentor guardian of such children to yoursubmission of the Content and haveensured that the parent or guardianhas read and agreed to this statement.Please provide the contact details ofeach child’s parent or guardian as wemay need to contact them.

PhotographyTerms andConditions

Published by the LTA

Editorial: Ellie Carr, Vince Thorne

The Lawn Tennis AssociationThe National Tennis Centre100 Priory Lane, RoehamptonLondon SW15 [email protected]

Design by Seven. Print by Charterhouse.

*All figures are taken as of 21/05/13

All information correct at time of going topress. All rights reserved. Articles may notbe reproduced without permission fromthe LTA. No responsibility will be acceptedfor any errors or omissions, or commentsmade by writers or interviewees. Viewsexpressed in the magazine are notnecessarily the views of the LTA.

Photo Credits:Getty Images, iStockphoto,Shutterstock, Thinkstock

06 Who is the LTA?The LTA celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, butwhat exactly does it do to promote British Tennis?12 Come on, Andy!Britain’s No.1 talks about his greatest year – Olympicgold and silver, finals at Wimbledon and in Australia,and winning his first Grand Slam in New York18 My video wallWe go behind the scenes with Aegon GB Davis and FedCup teams, including exclusive video footage20 LTA Mini TennisHow children aged three to ten can experience all the funof tennis and start developing their skills36 Cardio TennisKeep your heart rate up, burn calories and have fun –welcome to the high-energy world of Cardio Tennis

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

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

FEATURES

3212

www.lta.org.ukFollow us on Twitter @britishtennis Like us on facebook.com/britishtennislta

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

23 Summer of tennisYour special nine-page guideto the best summer eventsto watch – and play in –from the glorious grass ofThe Queen’s Club to fun inthe sun on Brighton beach32 Lawn and orderTwo British tennis legends discussall there is to know about playingon grass34 Summer TennisSurvival GuideYou’ve watched your heroes on telly and now youwant to give it a go. But where do you begin? Let BTQshow you the path to tennis nirvana

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For your chance to see theworld’sbestmen inactionat TheO2,complete theonline surveyat thewebaddress belowor scan the imageusingyour free Junaio app.See theBTQwebpage for full T&Cs.

p6&8 Who is the LTA?p18 My Video Wallp20 LTA Mini Tennis

WHERETOFINDYOURFREEVIDEOCONTENT

p34 Summer Tennis Survival Guidep36 Cardio Tennisp50 Q&A

www.completeasurvey.co.uk/BTQ2013

TICKETSTOTHE

BARCLAYSATP

WORLDTOURFINALS!

Ade Adepitan, a smash hit for viewers ofthe Paralympic Games last year, on the joyhe gets from playing tennis

Andrew Castle and Laura Robson team up withSir Richard Branson to launch an inclusive andunmatched tennis offering

Aegon GB Davis and Fed Cupstarstars sharshare theirtheir videosvideos andandsnaps from an exciting spring

INSIDER

5044

18

WIN

38 The winning lookWant to look like Roger, Rafa or Maria? Then check outthe latest range of Nike summer wear40 Judy Murray speaksBritain’s top tennis mum flies the flag for supporting ourup-and-coming British Tennis stars this summer42 Coaching cornerBTQ shares its tips for improving your game – and itdoesn’t matter whether you are an absolute beginneror seasoned pro44 Tennis wellbeing and fitnessFormer British No.1 Andrew Castle on the fitness regimesand workouts that can help to improve your game46 Get your tennis fixThere are many ways to become involved in BritishTennis this summer, from volunteering to following yourfavourite players on Twitter50 Q&AParalympian, TV presenter and role model for disabilitysport, Ade Adepitan reveals why he is swapping thebasketball court for the tennis court

40

“It’s interesting to see whorises to the occasion at SW19.”Judy Murray on a busy summerfor players, coaches and fans

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6 BRITISHTENNISQUARTERLY

FEATURE

www.lta.org.ukfacebook.com/britishtennislta

VIDEOCONTENT

Find out what’s going on in British

Tennis and how you can play your

part this summer. Scan the

racket using your Junaio app.

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7

SIGNUPTOALLPLAY.COMThere 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!

TWITTERANDFACEBOOKKeep 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!

www.lta.org.uk SUMMER2013

FEATURE


EXPLOREEXPLOREBRITISHBRITISHTENNISWith successsuccess on and off court, there has never been a better time to follow British Tennis

– and withwith the popularity of programmes such as Mini Tennis and Cardio Tennis, the

sport hashas never been more accessible to players of all ages and abilities

he Lawn TennisAssociation is the nationalgoverning body for tennisin Great Britain. Our role

is to governrn, develop and promotethe sport withwith the goal of gettingmore peoplepeople playing, more peoplefollowing andand more people winningin British TeTennis.

These areare extremely exciting timesfor tennis inin Great Britain. Last year,we celebracelebrated one of the best yearsfor tennis inin this country.We hadOlympic andand Paralympic medalsuccess, a Grand Slam singleswinner, a WimbledonWimbledon men’s doubleschampion and a WTA title winner.

TThis year we have had Andy

Murray winning ATP tour titles andgetting to the final of another GrandSlam, success from our Aegon GBDavis and Fed Cup teams, LauraRobson and Heather Watsonbreaking into the top 40 for the firsttime, and in our junior ranks we hadGB teams reach the Tennis EuropeWinter Cups final rounds in all sixage categories.

Tennis is a fun, affordable,family-friendly sport for all agesand abilities. British success has gotpeople talking about tennis – it’s nowour job to get more people out thereplaying and following tennis!

There are some great ways ofgetting into tennis. LTA MiniTennis uses smaller courts, lower-bouncing balls and smaller rackets,and is a great introduction to thegame for kids.

For adults, we have Cardio Tennis,which is a series of tennis-baseddrills played to up-tempo music ona tennis court.

It doesn’t matter whether theball flies in or out – it’s all abouthaving some fun and getting yourheart rate up!

So why not get out there and givetennis a go TODAY!

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2

4

3

5


FEATURE


SERVINGBRITISHTENNISFOR125YEARSAs the LTA celebrates 125 years in 2013, BTQ opens the archives

and looks at the changing face of tennis down the years

1Great Britain’s Davis Cupteam of 1936 celebrate after

retaining the giant trophy.Thevictorious men (left to right) BunnyAustin, Fred Perry, Raymond Tuckeyand Pat Hughes beat Australia 3-2at Wimbledon.

2Major Walter Clopton Wingfield(1833-1912) circa 1900,

regarded as the father of lawn tennis.In 1874 he patented a “New andImproved Court for Playing theAncient Game of Tennis”, using anhour-glass-shaped court.

3Virginia Wade dives to reach theball during the ladies’ final at

Wimbledon, 1977.Wade defeatedBetty Stove of Holland 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

4Former British No.1 TimHenman in action at The

Queen’s Club, London, on his wayto the final. Henman reached thefinal at The Queen’s Club on threeoccasions in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

5Wightman Cup doublespartners. Left to right: Britain’s

Freda James and Margot Lumb,

with their American opponentsAlice Marble and Sarah Fabyan atWimbledon, 1938.The Americanpair won 6-4, 6-2 to help the USto a 5-2 win in the 16th editionof the annual women’s teamtennis tournament.

6Herbert Brown of the LTAdemonstrates the best way to

receive a ground shot for entrants ofthe Middlesex Junior Championshipsat Harrow, 1931.

7John Crooke, a registeredprofessional LTA coach, gives

advice to keen players attending acourse and coaching holiday held atBenenden School, Kent, 1963.

8Her Majesty The Queen opensthe National Tennis Centre in

Roehampton in 2007.The site has 22courts, player accommodation and aworld-class sports science centre.

9British twin tennis brothersWilliam and Ernest Renshaw.

William (left), who won a total of 12Wimbledon titles, was elected thefirst LTA president in 1888.

1

CHIEFEXECUTIVE

ROGERDRAPER

“So much has changed inBritish Tennis over the pastsix or seven years, but thething I’m really proud of isour teachers, coaches,parents and volunteers.When I’m out and about,I see all of the effort they’veput in to get more peopleplaying tennis. What I’m

really proud of is all the thingsthey do on the ground on aday-to-day basis.”

To watch the full interview with LTA chief

executive Roger Draper, use your free

Junaio app to scan the image above.

VIDEOCONTENT

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CELEBRATING 125 YEARS

15,000+

Aegon Schools Programme

delivered training and

equipment to

schools

coaches supported through

the LTA Coach Accreditation

Scheme

3,500+

invested in

our top players

each year

£12m

invested£25min tennis facilities

Since

2008

6

7

8 9


FEATURE


YOURSUPPORTHELPSUSGROWTHEGAME

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With you from first serveto match pointOver 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

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

@aegonuk

aegon.co.uk/BTQ

Pensions Investments Protection

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11

A

ADVERTORIAL

Follow us on Twitter @britishtenniswww.lta.org.uk

DID YOU KNOW?

ARE YOU ONE OF 11 MILLION?

To encourage more people to save for their future,

the Government has introduced new rules. This means

that up to 11 million workers in the UK will be

automatically enrolled into a company pension

scheme between now and 2018.

For more information, speak to your employer, or visit

www.aegon.co.uk/pensionreform

SUMMER2013

@aegonuk

aegonuk

AEGONFUTURESTARSMore than 1,000 talented juniors have benefitedfrom the Aegon FutureStars programme over thepast five years.

TEAMAEGON–2012SUCCESSs ,AURA 2OBSON� PARTNERING !NDY -URRAY� WON

an Olympic silver medal for the mixed doubles.3HE WAS ALSO NAMED THE74!�S .EWCOMER OFtheYear 2012.s ,IAM "ROADY AND *OSHUA7ARD (IBBERTWON THE !USTRALIAN /PEN BOYS�DOUBLES TITLE� ,IAM WAS ALSO A lNALISTIN THE 53 /PEN BOYS� lNAL�s (EATHER7ATSON WON THE74!*APAN /PEN�s +YLE %DMUND WON THE 53 /PENBOYS� DOUBLES�

T !EGON� WE STRONGLY BELIEVETHAT IT�S VITAL TO PUT IN THEright preparation today forTOMORROW�S SUCCESS�

4HAT�S WHY WE�RE DELIGHTED TOsupport the Aegon FutureStarsPROGRAMME� WHICH IS KEY TO PRODUCINGTOP TENNIS TALENT OF THE FUTURE�4HISprogramme identifies the top emergingTALENT FROM ACROSS "RITAIN AND ENSURESthey receive the right support todevelop their tennis careers from anearly age.!EGON &UTURE3TARS WHO SHOW THE

most potential and desire to play at thehighest level have the chance to joinTHE ,4!�S TOP RANKED PLAYERS IN4EAM

CREATINGTHETALENT

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!EGON�4HIS PROGRAMME PROVIDESfurther specialist support to help themMAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TALENT�7E�RE PROUD THAT TOP "RITISH PLAYERS�

SUCH AS ,AURA 2OBSON� (EATHER7ATSON AND %LENA "ALTACHA� CURRENTLYFORM PART OF 4EAM!EGON n AS WELL AS#OLIN &LEMING� *ONNY -ARRAY AND*AMES7ARD� WHO SECURED '"�SFANTASTIC WIN IN THEIR RECENT $AVIS #UPTIE AGAINST 2USSIA�,IKE !EGON &UTURE3TARS AND4EAM

!EGON� WE WANT TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERSTRANSFORM THEIR TOMORROW BY HAVINGthe right retirement planning,investment solutions and protectionin place.

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FEATURE


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13www.lta.org.uk

FEATURE

Follow us on Twitter @britishtennis SUMMER2013

hat a year it has been forAndy Murray, a year thatwill never be forgottenand will cement his place

in history as one of the greatesttennis players ever.

Andy has come a long way fromwinning his first junior tournamentat U10 level at the DunblaneSports Club to winning ATP Tourevents, a Grand Slam and Olympicmedals – and all that in just the past12 months.

He was always destined forgreatness in one form or another,and having been offered to joinGlasgow Rangers FC as a youngster,Andy decided tennis was the sportfor him. After turning pro in 2005,Andy quickly added to an alreadyimpressive résumé, including thejunior US Open crown, winninghis first ATP Tour title in San Joséjust a year later.The rest, as theysay, is history.

Andy went from strength tostrength, from tour title to tour title,breaking in to the top ten in the worldrankings for the first time in 2007,and in 2008 reaching his first GrandSlam final at the US Open. Hereached a career-high ranking of No.2in the world in 2009 and hasn’t beenoutside the top four since – a prettyimpressive run.

The Scot goes into the summergrass court season hoping to addmore silverware to a trophy cabinetthat is already bursting. He has animpressive record at the AegonChampionships, having lifted thetrophy in 2009 and 2011, and willhead into The Championships,Wimbledon with the country behindhim, having come so close to winninglast year when he became the firstBritish man to reach the singles finalin 74 years.We’re looking forward toa great summer of tennis, which Andywill undoubtedly play a big part in.

W

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?

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14 BRITISHTENNISQUARTERLY www.lta.org.ukfacebook.com/britishtennislta

FEATURE

Andy took some time out to answerquestions about the past year – a yearhe called the best in his career, whichwe are sure he will build on. He tellsus about his experiences in GrandSlam finals, how he reflects upontough losses and uses them to makehim stronger and mentally tougher,and what it will mean to him to comeback to the Aegon Championshipsthis 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 lastyear my results in the big eventshave been as good as I would havehoped. You know you can’t win allof the big matches, but to get toplay in a Wimbledon final, Olympicsfinal, US Open final and then theAustralian Open final, I think Igained a lot of experience becauseof that and an understanding ofwhat it takes physically andmentally to play with thatconsistency in the big events. It’sbeen the best seven to eight monthsof my tennis career and I will tryto 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 fromAustralia, it’s a long flight so there’stime to think, but you try to look atthe tournament as a whole as muchas you can.There is a lot of training that goes

into it with all the work that you do

ANDYMURRAYDOB: 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

in December to prepare for it, so it’sdisappointing not to come away withthe result that you want. But it wasa good start to the year and I wonagainst Roger Federer for the firsttime in a Grand Slam in five sets ina tough, tough match, and I won inBrisbane to start the year.It was a good start to my year, not

the perfect start, but I think I willbuild on it.

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 firstmatch here. I used to come andwatch Queen’s a couple of timeswhen I was playing in the juniors atWimbledon. I played the juniorcompetition when they had it hereas well and I have loads of greatmemories. I used to come and trainhere, too, when the National TennisCentre was here.Winning the title a couple of

times was great as well. To win atournament on your home soil feelsgood, so I have got good memoriesfrom here.I enjoy coming back and it has

been really good preparation for mefor Wimbledon, and I hope it’s thesame again this year.

“To win a

tournament on

your home soil

feels good”

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FEATURE


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 anexciting few weeks. All of the GrandSlams are special for differentreasons – I think everyone wouldknow why Wimbledon is special tome. Last year, I think I started tounderstand and appreciate thehistory, maybe more and more eachyear that I’ve played there, and to getto 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 andlook at Centre Court when it wasempty. The tournament means a lotto me and I always look forward to it.

How much did the game miss

Rafael Nadal? Do you think he

can be a force again?

The game missed him because ofwhat he brings to the court. He is oneof the best athletes that’s ever playedand one of the most competitiveplayers. He’s one of the greatestplayers who has played the sport soI think when he’s out you areobviously going to miss something.His rivalry with Roger has been one

of the best our sport has ever had soI hope it doesn’t take too long for himto get back to playing his best tennis.Before he got injured tennis was in agreat spot.There have been lots of great

matches between the players right atthe top of the game, with Roger andRafa being two of the best playersever, and Novak has had anincredible few years.If Rafa gets back to his best game,

it’s good for tennis. BTQ

WimbledonAndy becomes the first Brit toreach the Wimbledon men’s finalin 74 years.

London OlympicsAndy wins gold after defeatingRoger Federer in the men’s singlesfinal, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

London OlympicsHe also wins a silver medal inthe mixed doubles alongsideLaura Robson.

ATP World Tour FinalsAt the end-of-season finale atThe O2 arena, Andy gets to thesemi-finals, losing to Federer.

Shanghai Rolex MastersThe next month he reaches thefinal in Shanghai, finishingrunner-up to Novak Djokovic.

US OpenAndy becomes the first Britishman in 76 years to win a GrandSlam singles title.

Brisbane InternationalAndy wins his first title of theyear, beating Grigor Dimitrovin the final.

Australian OpenHe goes on to reach his thirdAustralian Open final, losing toDjokovic in four sets.

Sony Open, MiamiAndy wins in Miami, defeatingDavid Ferrer in an epic decidingset tie-break.

November 2012 October 2012 September 2012

MURRAY’SMINT:AYEARINPICTURES

July 2012 August 2012 August 2012

Winterbreak

January 2013 January 2013 March 2013

Tosummer2013

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17www.lta.org.uk SPRING2013

FEATURE


It’s a great way to exercise,

and fun for the whole family

Find out where you can play forfree at allplaytennis.com

Tell us what tennis means to you #TennisIs

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18

FEATURE

BRITISHTENNISQUARTERLY www.lta.org.ukLike us on facebook.com/britishtennislta

1

MYVIDEOWALL

1.COMEON,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.LOOKINGGOODThe 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,ONEDREAMThe 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.MARACASAT THEREADYJo 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

or this special summeredition of BTQ, we take alook at some of GB’s bestplayers and what goes on

when they represent their respectiveteams – both on and off court.Downtime for the players is justas important as concentrating andworking hard during their trainingsessions on court.

We thought we should celebratethe performances of our men andwomen’s teams this year after theyhave provided a lot of excitementand taken part in some incrediblematches.

WITHAEGONTEAMGB

The Aegon GBGB Davis Cup Teamare looking forwardard to a promotionplay-off in SeptemberSeptember thanks to athrilling victory againstagainst Russia.TheAegon GB Fed CupCup Team made avaliant effort at gettinggetting themselvesout of the Euro/AfrEuro/Africa Group I.

After cruising throughthrough the firstround with victoriesies over Bosniaand Herzegovina, Portugal andHungary, they eventuallyentually lostnarrowly against a strong Argentinianside on the clay in Buenos Aires ina promotion play-offy-off.

Let’s take a looklook back at the actionfrom Team GB so far this year. BTQ

your Junaio app to taketake a tour with Jo. She’ll

show you the changingchanging rooms, team room

and much more.

5.STRETCHITOUTAnne Keothavong doesdoes some stretching

ahead of the tie. Stretchingetching is a really

important part of playerplayers’ preparation

before going on court andand in their recovery

to make sure they are rready to go the

next day. Use you JuanioJuanio app to see

Judy Murray taking thethe team through a

warm-up exercise beforore they get to the

serious stuff.

6.WHAT’SSOFUNNYAnne and Jo have a gigglegiggle during the

pre-match press conferenceence – I wonder

what they are laughing about? Having

a good laugh is really importantimportant to the

team, and believe us, thesethese girls are good

at laughing. Check out thethe girls answering

some questions sent in to @BritishTennis

using your Junaio app.

7.OLÉ!The girls really got into thethe Argentine

spirit. Posing here in theirtheir tango hats, the

girls were inspired when they went to watch

the local dance during somesome downtime one

evening. I wonder which one of them has

the best rhythm…

F

Locations:

Ricoh Arena, Coventry and the MeryTerán

de Weiss Stadium, Buenos Aires

Surfaces:

Hard court and clay

Players:

James Ward

Dan Evans

Colin Fleming

Jonny Marray

Laura Robson

Johanna Konta

Anne Keothavong

Elena Baltacha

Captains:

Leon Smith and

Judy Murray

FORMOR

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19

FEATURE

www.lta.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @britishtennis SUMMER2013

2 3

45

6

7 89

8.HERO!Doubles pair Jonny MarrMarray and Colin

Fleming celebrate withwith Dan Evans after

his crucial fifth rubberbber victory in Coventry,

taking the Aegon GB DaDavis Cup Team into

the World Group play-offplay-off. What a win!

9.LET’SGOGB,LET’SGO!The crowd in Coventry were amazing. It’s a

massive boost to playerplayers when they have the

whole arena behind them,them, and this definitely

helped to spur on Dan,Dan, James, Jonny and

Colin on their way to defdefeating Russia for a

place in the World Groupoup play-off. Make sure

you get behind the BritsBrits this summer.

DAVISCUPThe 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.

FEDCUPThe 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.

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FEATURE

www.lta.org.ukLike us on facebook.com/britishtennislta

LTAMINITENNIS

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 betweenthree and ten cannow get stuck intothe world of tennis

with an exciting programmefrom the LTA, sponsored byHighland Spring.

LTA MiniTennis is a modifiedversion of the game specificallydesigned to introduce childrenaged three to ten to tennis.Withsmaller courts, nets and rackets,and lower-bouncing balls, LTAMiniTennis allows children todevelop vital skills and techniquesat an early age.

There are four age-relatedstages of LTA MiniTennis:Tots,Red, Orange and Green, eachwith their own court size andtype of ball.There is also an

LTA MiniTennis awards scheme,called the Rally Awards, designedto regularly reward and trackchildren’s improvement.

RALLY AWARDSThe LTA MiniTennis RallyAwards are designed to help miniplayers learn in stages and takepart in regular exciting challengeswith rewards.They can tracktheir own progress with stickers,certificates and badges anddevelop their tennis skills at apace that suits them.

The LTA MiniTennis RallyAwards measure the ability of theplayers to play tennis in anobjective framework, which willensure standards are consistentacross Great Britain.

WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT COLOURS MEAN?

TOTSThe 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, GREENThe core structure of the Red, Orange and Green Rally Awards is a consistent

set of tennis skills that get progressivelymore 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.

C

MORE THAN110,000 CHILDRENARE PLAYING MINITENNIS ACROSSGREAT BRITAIN

VISIT WWW.LTAMINITENNIS.CO.UKTO FIND A VENUE NEAR YOU

NOTTINGHAM FESTIVALOF TENNISThe biggest National Mini Tennis

Week festival is at the Aegon

Challenge, whichmarks 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 LTAMini

Tennis at grass court tournaments,

including the:

Aegon Trophy

Aegon Championships

Aegon Classic

Aegon International.

VIDEOCONTENT

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21

FREE

MINI TEN

NIS

GOOD

IES!

Afteryourevent,send us your

pics, videosand number of children

that tookpart at your venueand

we’ll send yousom

e MiniTennis

goodiesfromour shop.Emailto:

nationalminitennisweek@

lta.org.uk

www.lta.org.uk SUMMER2013

FEATURE


MAKE A SPLASH ON THE COURTHighland 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 thatmean?Well, about 60 per cent

of your body ismade of water. Amazing, isn’t it? So it’s really

important to drink lots of water to keep healthy and feel great.

LTAMini 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.

Drinkingmore 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.

1,500 PLACESACROSS THECOUNTRY AREDELIVERING LTAMINI TENNIS

NATIONAL MINITENNISWEEKNational 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 LTAMini 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

LTAMini Tennis and National

Mini Tennis Week please visit

www.ltaminitennis.co.uk

220x220.indd 21220x220.indd 21 03/06/2013 10:3303/06/2013 10:33

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Better document management cuts the time devoted to doingeach task. Give your people greater flexibility and freedom, andsee a tangible difference on the bottom line.

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23SUMMER2013

BTQSPECIAL:SUMMEROFTENNIS

www.lta.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @britishtennis

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 foreven the most ardenttennis fan, with only thehardiest of player braving

the snow-covered courts to get theiroutdoor fix. But now those memoriesof crisp mornings and dark eveningshave melted with the frost, and thesmell of freshly cut grass fills the air.

Which brings us rather neatly toour favourite surface. A Britishsummer isn’t complete withoutimages of the striking green courtsof The Championships,Wimbledonand the Aegon Championships atThe Queen’s Club.

It’s not all about the “big two”,however, with events up and downthe country making for a busysummer schedule. Check out ourcomprehensive listings starting onpage 25 to find your nearest event.

Meanwhile, turn to page 32 toread two legends of the British gamesharing their memories of playing ongrass, and who they think will reignsupreme in SW19.

It’s going to be a great summer, sowhether you are a casual fan, socialplayer or fanatic, get down to yourlocal court and have fun – just don’tforget to pack a brolly! BTQ

I

FUNINTHESUN

220x220.indd 23220x220.indd 23 03/06/2013 10:3303/06/2013 10:33

ADVANTAGE CROWNE PLAZA.

TO BOOK, VISIT WWW.IHG.COM/CROWNEPLAZA, OR CALL 0871 221 2478

facebook.com/crowneplaza @CrownePlaza

Whether you’re a competitor, coach, parent or passionate fan, why not spend some time with us; the Preferred Hotel

Partner of the LTA. Enjoy fine restaurants, fantastic bars and spa amenities, all in great locations across the UK and Europe.

Why not take advantage?

220x220.indd 24220x220.indd 24 03/06/2013 10:3303/06/2013 10:33

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SUMMERLISTINGS

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

NOTTINGHAMFESTIVALOFTENNIS1-16JUNEAND16-21JULY

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

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

AEGON TROPHY1-9 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.

AEGONNOTTINGHAMCHALLENGE8-16 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.

NATIONAL MINITENNIS WEEK,SPONSORED BYHIGHLANDSPRING10–16 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 OPENWHEELCHAIRTENNISCHAMPIONSHIPS16-21JULY

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.

»

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At La Manga Club in Spain we’ve got everything the whole family could wish for in a holiday;

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AEGONINTERNATIONAL15-22JUNE

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.

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

AEGONCHAMPIONSHIPS10-16JUNE

The Queen’s Club, London

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

AEGONCLASSIC9-16JUNE

The Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham

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

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AEGONCOUNTYCUP21-26JULY

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

THECHAMPIONSHIPS,WIMBLEDON24JUNE–7JULY

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.

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

BRITISHOPENWHEELCHAIRTENNISCHAMPIONSHIPS16-21JULY

Nottingham Tennis Centre

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

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

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31

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

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.

SUMMER2013

SUMMEROFTENNIS


BRITISHCLOSEDSENIORS’GRASS

COURTSCHAMPIONSHIPS18-24AUGUST

Aorangi Park, Wimbledon

SOUTHOFENGLANDSENIORS’

CHAMPIONSHIPS26-31AUGUST

Devonshire Park, Eastbourne

AEGONGBPRO-SERIESVARIOUSDATES

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

AEGONBRITISHTOURVARIOUSDATES

Locations countrywide

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.

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

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.

EUROPEANBEACH

TENNISCHAMPIONSHIPS9-11AUGUST

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

220x220.indd 31220x220.indd 31 03/06/2013 10:3303/06/2013 10:33

LAWN&

Do you remember the first

competitive match you

played on grass?

GREG: I’ve always liked playingon grass. One of my first memoriesin tennis is playing at Newport,Rhode Island, and winning thatevent – my first career title –and qualifying for Wimbledonin 1993. But I have other goodmemories of playing on grass,such as winning in Nottinghamon two occasions, before the eventmoved to Eastbourne. Really goodmemories – grass has always beenpretty good to me.

TIM: In a junior tournament whenI was eight or nine. We played alot in the summer at places likeCheltenham, Torquay and Bristol.Playing on grass at a young agecertainly helped me when I gotto play in the biggest and besttournament at Wimbledon becauseI felt very comfortable on thatsurface and it helped me havesome good results.

What is it that makes it such

a unique surface?

GREG: Grass is so much differentnow than when I used to play onit. It is much slower, with higher-bouncing balls. When I played youwere told to try and not let the ballbounce by volleying it in the air.Tennis has changed so much now,but I have always enjoyed playingon grass courts. The adjustmentbetween the clay courts of the FrenchOpen to grass is all about adaptingyour movement and getting usedto getting a bit lower on the courts,as clay has very high-bouncingballs. You have to adjust with yourmovement patterns although thesedays you can pretty much play anygame you want on grass. We usedto be all about the serve and volley,chip and charge, get to the net asquick as you can. But now you don’thave to adjust your game quite asmuch – just your footwork.

TIM: Grass is only played on for fourweeks of the year, but soon to be

TIMHENMANDOB: 6 September 1974

Career-high ranking: 4 (8 July 2002)

Plays: Right-handed

Best part of game: Serve-volley

Turned pro: 1993


Wimbledon best: SF 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002

The Queen’s Club best: F 1999, 2001, 2002


BTQSPECIAL


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

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&ORDERfive from 2015 when the extra weekis added between the French Openand Wimbledon – which I think isgood for grass court tennis. Beforeit was very much serve and volleydominated, but now the grass courtshave changed and they’re muchharder, the grass is much coarser,so the ball doesn’t skid throughso much and the rallies are muchlonger. I think as a spectacle it’smuch better. It’s a good surface forthe players and it doesn’t put theirbodies under so much strain, sohopefully grass court tennis canhave a bit of a resurgence and gofrom 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 the1981 Wimbledon final, with McEnroecoming through to win it, is myfavourite match on grass. I thinkmy favourite match I played ongrass was at Wimbledon againstJonathan Stark, back in 1997,when I went on to make thequarter-finals. I was two sets down,I was struggling a little bit withmy back at the time, it got raindelayed and I came back to win11-9 in the fifth set. So it was a goodmemory to win that one, but alsobeating Mark Philippoussis in thefirst round of Wimbledon in straight

sets, when he was seeded seventh,was fantastic.

TIM: The first Wimbledon final thatI ever commentated on – RogerFederer v Rafael Nadal in 2008. Nadalwon 9-7 in the fifth set. The drama ofthe match was extraordinary, withNadal being up two sets to love andFederer coming back and winningthe third and fourth sets in the tie-break. The light was starting to go,but Nadal managed to win and tookhis first Wimbledon title.

Who are your tips for the

Wimbledon title this year?

GREG: Wimbledon is going to be veryinteresting this year – Andy Murraycertainly has a great chance. If I lookat it, for me it is all about the bigplayers, with Murray having a reallygood chance to win after getting tothe final last year. Time will tell afterthe French Open whether it will beMurray, Novak Djokovic or Nadal.I’m not going to say the defendingchampion, Roger Federer, which Ican’t believe, but I think it will bebetween the other three.

TIM: Andy Murray is going to be oneof the favourites if not the favourite,on the back of making the final lastyear and winning Olympic gold. He’sgoing to be very comfortable thereand has as good a chance as anyone.

GREGRUSEDSKIDOB: 6 September 1973

Career-high ranking: 4 (6 October 1997)

Plays: Left-handed

Best part of game: Serve

Turned pro: 1991


Wimbledon best: QF 1997

The Queen’s Club best: SF 1997

Twitter handle:@GregRusedski1


SUMMEROFTENNIS


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34 BRITISHTENNISQUARTERLY www.lta.org.ukfacebook.com/britishtennislta

BTQSPECIALVIDEOCONTENT

SUMMER

TENNIS

SURV

IVALGUIDE

If youfancy

gettingout there

andenjoying

abit m

ore tennis

this summer, but you’re not

reallysure where to

begin,

thenlook no

further. Whether

youneed

ashove to

make it

fromcouch

tocourt, or you

just want toknow

howto

maxim

ise your dayout at the

tennis, BTQis on

handwith

your ultimate Tennis Survival

Guide tohelp

youget the m

ost

fromthe gam

e this summer…

COVER

UP

Don’t forget your sun creamand hat!

Whether you’re planning to head out to

your local courts to play or going to watch

one of the fantastic events happening this

summer (see page 25 for listings), don’t

forget to cover up when the sun has

got his hat on. And for those

unavoidable rainy days… a

brolly isn’t a bad idea.

BOOKITIN

Book your court in advance to avoid

disappointment. Getting a regular

game in the diary is not only something

to look forward to all week, but will

help you get into a routine. You

never know, you might even

manage to keep playing

throughout the year.

CHALLEN

GE

YOURSELF

Try and play with someone a

little bit better than you so that you

can push yourself and improve. But

don’t forget to keep the karma good by

offering your talents to someone not as

good as you, too – it’s all about

supporting each other.

STAYAPPY

Follow on Twitter to find out the latest if

you can’t make it to an event @AegonClassic

@BritishTennis. And don’t forget to download

the LTA Summer Events App for all the

latest scores and draws at the Aegon

Championships, Aegon Classic and Aegon

International. The app also has the latest

photos and videos, so if you’re not able

to watch on the day you can catch

up on the action.

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35www.lta.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @britishtennis SUMMER2013

SUMMEROFTENNIS

KEEPHYD

RATED

Whether you’re running around like

a loon on court or sunning yourself on

Murray Mound, don’t forget to keep

hydrated. You’re more likely to drink fluid

if you enjoy the taste of it, so try

a fruit-flavoured squash – this does not

include Pimm’s, unfortunately – to

keep you knocking back the water.

WATCH

ANDLEA

RN

Watching the pros play is great fun,

and it’s also an excellent way to learn

more about the game. Taking note of how

your idol moves on court really will help you

understand different techniques.

SHARE

AND

SHARE

ALIKE

If you’re looking to get some

coaching this summer, why not share

a private lesson with a friend? It can make

it a whole load of fun and will cost you

half as much.

OUTOF

SERVICE

If you are worried about having an

inconsistent serve and it’s ruining the

flow of your matches, why not start with

an underarmserve? There’s no shame

in using an underarmserve and you may

find you enjoy the points a lot more as

you have a better chance of keeping a

good rally. As you practise more and

gain confidence, you can start to

work the overarmserve into

your game.

DON’TFO

RGET

TOHAV

EFU

N!

Check out these guys – maybe take

a leaf out of their book?

SNAP!

Did you know that your strings are more likely

to snap in hot weather? Make sure you get your

racket restrung regularly to avoid themgoing

“ping” during your next outing. Strings also start

to lose tension fromthe moment a racket is

strung and over time they become less

resilient. As a rule of thumb, if you’re

playing one hour a week then you

should be restringing annually.

GET

IN

THERECO

VERY

POSITIO

N

When you’re playing, always

remember to get back to the “recovery”

spot in the centre of the baseline after

each shot. This will make sure you’re

in the best position possible

to receive any ball from

your opponent.

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FEATURE


Cardio Tennis is a seriesof tennis-based drillsand activities playedto up-tempo music ona tennis court. It doesn’trequire tennis skills, butis all about keeping yourheart rate up, burningcalories and having fun.Whether the ball goesin or out is irrelevant,the main purpose isto get fit!

BENEFITSOF

CARDIOTENNISNot only will you have the chanceto meet new people and have funin an upbeat and sociable groupenvironment, but you will also:

Improve your heart and lungfitness and reduce your risk ofheart diseaseTone and shape your keymuscle groupsBurn calories for a leaner bodyBuild and improve yourtennis skills.

ATYPICAL

SESSIONYour trained Cardio Tennisinstructor will lead you througha 60-minute session consistingof a short warm-up and cool-downeither side of a 40-minute full-bodycardio workout.

1.WARM-UP Some dynamicstretching and skills and drills toget your body warm and mindsharp before the workout begins.

2. AEROBICSECTIONHere’s yourchance to hit loads of shots,including forehands, backhands,serves and volleys, all mixed witha variety of sideline activities.

3. TENNISSECTION Practise yourshots with fun tennis games.You’llnever play one on one – yourteammates will be with you allthe way.

4. COOL-DOWNWell done, youmade it! Now it’s time to recoverand stretch.

VIDEOCONTENT

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37www.lta.org.uk

FEATURE


GETINVOLVEDDid you know there are now over

1,000 coaches trained to deliverCardio Tennis in more than 700venues 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

KIRSTYGARRETTHEAD COACH,SUTTON CHURCHESTENNIS 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.”

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38 www.lta.org.ukLike us on facebook.com/britishtennislta

INSIDER

BRITISHTENNISQUARTERLY

THEWINNINGLOOKMAKE SUREYOU’RE LOOKING LIKE A PRO

THIS SUMMER – CHECKOUTTHE 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 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.

Nike Rafa Peaks Crew – FibreglassMen’s, £44.99Junior, £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.

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.

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www.lta.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @britishtennis SUMMER2013 39

INSIDER

WIN!To be in with a chance of winning

a £25 voucher to put towards some of

this great kit, simply tell us what you want

to see more of in BTQ.

One lucky winner will receive a £25 voucher to

be redeemed at the LTA online shop, powered by

PWP, on Nike and Babolat products only.

To enter visit www.lta.org.uk/BTQ

The closing date is 19 August when we will

randomly select one winner. The draw will

take place on 22 August. Competition

terms and conditions are listed

on the BTQ webpage at

www.lta.org.uk/BTQ

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.

Nike Premier MariaTank – 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.

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.

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.

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INSIDER


hoever said “grass is forcows” was wrong. It’sdefinitely for the BritishTennis fan.The grass

season is the time when the tennisworld focuses its attention on ourcountry because we host most ofthe major events, so June and Julytend to be the months when wego bat and ball crazy.They alsorepresent our biggest opportunityto attract new people into the gamebecause there’s so much exposurein the media.

I see the great British summertimeas a massive chance to grow thegame, to educate the tennisworkforce and to inspire our players– young and not so young. Becausethe LTA runs a number of the majorATP, WTA and ITF grass events,there are many areas where we cancreate opportunities for people to seebehind the scenes, meet and watchworld-class players and coaches, andto learn about the running of bigtennis events.

For our players, we have a numberof wild-card entries to allocate,which allows us to reward deservingjuniors and seniors with access intotournaments that are beyond theircurrent ranking.

It’s hectic, it’s exciting and it’sstressful.Well, that’s how it was forme last year – bombing aroundmiddle to southern England trying tocarry out coaching, mentoring andparental duties.

This year will be no different, butfor me the grass season is all aboutcreating opportunities; it’s a chance

Wto watch all of our female players intop-class competition on home turf(no pun intended), and to spendtime with the best junior girls anda number of female coaches. Here’sa wee insight into some of the thingsI’m planning to cover...

During the Aegon Classic atEdgbaston, Claire Curran (LTA leadcoach, women’s doubles) and I aretaking advantage of Ladies’ Day(Thursday) and putting togethera coach education package for 12female coaches and a motivational/educational trip for eight of our topU12 girls.

This will involve an on-courttraining session, a behind-the-scenestour to meet everyone from thetournament director and the ballkidsto the physios and the media liaisonofficers, as well as visiting the playerslounge to speak to competitorsand coaches.We will even arrangeattendance at a press conference andthe opportunity to learn how to scouttop players during matches on theCentre Court.

In the following week, I’ll bebased at the National Tennis Centrein Roehampton to cover bothWimbledon qualifying and helpprepare our GB junior team to playthe USA for the annual MaureenConnolly Trophy.

This event is great fun and allowsboth teams much-needed trainingand match practice on grass beforethe ITF event at Roehampton andjunior Wimbledon.The match isplayed at Eastbourne on theThursday and Friday of the Aegon

JUDYSPEAKS

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

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41

The Maureen ConnollyTrophy, held during the

Aegon International

www.lta.org.uk

INSIDER


“It’s interesting to

see who rises to the

occasion at SW19

and who behaves

like a day tripper”

again is an opportunity to watch ourmost promising girls in a majorcompetition. It’s always interesting tosee who rises to the occasion, who isparalysed by it, who is totallydistracted by the hype around SW19and who behaves like a day tripper.

You know the type... happy tobe here, but no ambition or beliefthat they can do some damage inthe draw. It’s all about the mind-set.Very few juniors know how to playon grass because the season isso short and hardly any countrieshave grass courts nowadays. So,again, it’s a big opportunity for ourplayers. If they believe!

I’ve lost track of how manytimes I’ve mentioned the word“opportunity” in this article, butthat’s how we must ALL view thegrass season... and make sure wemax out. BTQ

DON’TFORGETTOCHECK

OUTJUDY’SLATESTBLOGS–

VISITWWW.LTA.ORG.UK/BTQ

TOSEEWHATSHE’SBEENUP

TORECENTLY

International so the girls will havethe added benefit of being part ofa major event and rubbing shoulderswith some of the world’s bestplayers. I see this match as a bigchance for me to work with – and getto know – our best 15 to 17-year-olds, who may become our FedCuppers of the future.

After that we are into Wimbledonand that involves the usual racing ’n’chasing around the All EnglandLawn Tennis Club trying to watchand support all of our players (andtheir coaches), as well as servicingthe many media requests thatinevitably come my way.The secondweek is all about the juniors and

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INSIDER


COACHING

CORNERIT’S IMPORTANT YOU

ARE TAKING TENNIS TIPS

APPROPRIATE TO YOUR LEVEL.

THIS ISSUE OF BTQ SHARES

SOME TIPS FOR ALL OF YOU,

WHETHER YOU DON’T KNOW

ONE END OF THE RACKET

FROM THE OTHER, AS WELL

AS SOME ADVICE FOR THE

SEASONED PROS

e thought it was about time we gave yousome great coaching tips for you to takeintointo yyourour nextnext mamatch.tch. HereHere yyouou cancan fifindndsome great nuggets of advice, depending

on your level. So whether you’re a completebeginner, a social hitter or a Murray wannabe, lookno further for some great advice.

W

HAVEN’T A CLUE

1All you need to start playing

is a racket and some

trainers – wear whatever

clothing you feel comfortable

in. Once you playmore regularly

youmight want to invest in

specialised tennis trainers, which

offer extra support.

2Stay 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.

3Get hold of someMini

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 amore 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 youmight

be able to borrow some off

a coach at your local club.

4Look 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.

5Don’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.

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43www.lta.org.uk

INSIDER


TOP OF MY GAME

1Get 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

stringsmight give you better

feel they aremore likely to

break. Thicker strings will last

longer, but are less delicate.

See BTQ issue 5 for advice from

the country’s top stringer.

2Get 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.

3Extend through the hitting

zone. On groundstrokes

you can achieve a double

win of more power andmore

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 givemore

power and a greater chance of a

clean strike.

4Shift 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.

5On 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 forwardmotion of the

serve bymoving 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.

COULD DO BETTER

1Use two hands on your

backhand for a stronger

shot, more support

and extra stability. There’s

always room for a single-

handed 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.

2Don’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 asmany

times as you need.

3Get 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 youmay

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.

4Find 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,

whichmeans 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.

5Aim higher over the

net. As players improve

and start to hit harder

a commonmisconception

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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INSIDER


TENNISWELLBEING& 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 andwell-known broadcasterAndrew Castle was recentlyannounced as adult

tennis ambassador atVirgin ActiveHealth & Racquet Clubs. Andrew’srole will see him visiting clubs acrossthe country and running tennisclinics for members, encouragingthem to pick up a racket and givetennis a go.

Meanwhile, world No.35 LauraRobson will help drive participationamong young players, particularlyyoung girls.

Here, Andrew talks about his fitnessregime and how you can improve yourgame through your workout.

“Until a month ago my weeklyworkout involved at least two gamesof squash, but I have been forced intoearly retirement because my body wassuffering too much.

“The impact of squash on the hipsand lower back takes its toll, so I amgrieving for a sport that has givenme a lot of pleasure, as well as pain.I know how important staying activeis, however, so I’ve chosen lowerimpact forms of exercise to maintainstrength and flexibility.”

DThe former tennis pro may not

play the sport as frequently as he didin his heyday, but he recognises theimportance of proper preparationbefore a game.

Andrew says: “I play tennis at leasttwice a week and with age I’ve becomebetter at stretching and warming up.I have one training session a weekwith Julien Diaz, who is a formerdancer with the Ballet Rambert, andflexibility, strength and balance are hispriorities. I would say he understandsthe body as well as anyone I have everworked with, either on court or off.

He was recommended by my physio,who was seeing me too often.”

It is important to vary your gymworkout to get the most out of yourgame. Strength training andcardiovascular exercise will bothhelp to give you an edge over anopponent. Fitness instructors at your

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localVirgin Active will be able toadvise on the best exercises toimprove performance. Andrew likesto spice up his workout with differentclasses and gym floor exercises.

“Interval training is great for thelegs and lungs and I have become abeliever in yoga, Pilates and groupcycle classes. Many of these used tobe called ‘alternative’, but they aremainstream now, widely accessibleand very valuable.

“Strong legs are key to a successfulgame, with so much court to coverand with so many changes ofdirection.The leg press machine mayseem boring, but the quads are vital– and don’t forget the hamstring tobalance things up.

“Low impact work is recommendedwith age so a good swim makes moresense to me than a long run.”

It’s important to make sure that anygym work is performed correctly to

TOPTIPSTO HELP

STOPTHOSE NIGGLES

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

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.”

avoid unnecessary injuries. It’s worthconsidering working with a personaltrainer – even if it’s only once amonth.They are there to help you getthe most out of a workout and canadvise on the best training programmeto suit your needs.

Injuries will inevitably occur, sowhat does Andrew advise?

“With tennis elbow or golfer’selbow on the other side of thearm, then ice, rest, elevation andcompression are the order of theday.There are straps and supportsthat may make your elbow morecomfortable during play, but againit is the professionals that knowbest.Take medical advice for thecorrect diagnosis and then act onthat advice. If you don’t, it may begame over.”

To find out more aboutVirginActive’s unique tennis offering visit:www.virginactive.co.uk BTQ

“It’s easy tooverdo it andplay too muchin the pursuitof improvement”

Andrew Castle and LauraRobson talk tennis with Virginsupremo Sir Richard Branson

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46

FOLLOWTHESTARS

BRITISHTENNISQUARTERLY

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GETYOUR TENNISFIXTennis 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

CASUALFAN

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,

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.

ANDYMURRAY

@ANDY_MURRAY

LAURAROBSON

@LAURAROBSON5

HEATHERWATSON

@HEATHERWATSON92

DANEVANS

@EVO151216

JAMESWARD

@JAMESWARDTENNIS

COLINFLEMING

@COLIN_FLEMING

ROSSHUTCHINS

@ROSCOHUTCHINS

LIAMBROADY

@LIAMBROADY

KYLEEDMUND

@KYLE8EDMUND

OLIGOLDING

@OLI_GOLDING

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47www.lta.org.uk

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SOCIALPLAYERIf 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 you’re also keen to get your beach

body ready and don’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.

Tell

uswhat

tennis

meanstoyou

#TennisIs

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FANATICIf 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

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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QA&


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For more than ten years, Ade Adepitan has been anunmistakeable character in the world of UK sport.Immediately recognisable from his cheeky grin and flowingdreadlocks, 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 worldchampions the USA along the way.

Ade, who grew up in East London, co-anchored Channel 4’scoverage of last summer’s Paralympic Games with Clare Balding.

He has been a key figure in promoting disability sport and isa role model to many young players. BTQ caught up with himrecently and heard of his passion for tennis, its role in school sportsand who he’d most like be his doubles partner. Read on… BTQ

Why do you think tennisis a great sport fordisabled people?

It’s a fantastic sport becauseit gets them out of theirhomes and gives them anopportunity to socialise andtravel, but it’s also a greatform of fitness. It’s technical,it teaches them chair skills andit’s a lot of fun. I love playingtennis – it’s great!

What are the benefits ofplaying tennis?

It’s great cardiovascular exerciseand good for concentrationand good for your self-esteem,because, like all sports, as youimprove you get more confidentand that helps you out, bothmentally and physically.

Do you play any tennis?You could call it tennis, but youmight watch it and not think it’stennis! I love playing tennis.I love the feel of hitting a balland hitting a winner, gettingout and about and playingmatches. Hopefully, whenI get more time, I’ll playmore tennis.

What do you know aboutCardio Tennis?

I know there is a group of madpeople out there who screamand shout every Friday,listening to ’80s music, wearingheadbands, running andjumping about with tennisrackets in their hands. Is thatCardio Tennis? It looks fun!

Why is tennis a greatsport to play at school?

When I was at school, tenniswasn’t easy to access. Findingcourts and rackets was quitedifficult, but now it’s moreavailable with the TennisFoundation and the LTA doingmore to promote tennis inschools. It’s extremely importantbecause it gives kids anotheroption. At the moment in theUK everything is about football,rugby and cricket, but this is atotally different sport. It’s greatfor hand-eye co-ordination, andit’s just something different andsomething they can get excitedabout. And there are some great,fabulous tennis stars out thereand some great wheelchairtennis stars too.

Do you thinkprogrammes such as LTAMini Tennis and CardioTennis are important forgetting people active?

They are important for “mini”people and “cardio” people.Mini Tennis is important foryoung people who are not strongenough to play on the big court,allowing them to work on theirtechnique. It also means theirconfidence doesn’t drain awaywhen they can’t hit the ballover the net. I think that is veryimportant. Cardio Tennis is

Ade Adepitan, wheelchair basketball player

and Paralympic bronze medallist tells us why

tennis is now his gameAAAQ&AWITHADEADEPITAN, PARALYMPIAN, SPORTS ENTHUSIASTANDALL-ROUNDGOODGUY

Ade with British tennis starsJonny Marray, Elena Baltacha

and Andy Lapthorne

VIDEOCONTENT

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51www.lta.org.uk

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great because it seems like a lotof fun, with loud music playing.It’s great exercise. Tennis isabout getting fit and gettingactive, so stop watching TV andstart playing tennis!

Who would be yourfavourite doublespartner?

Serena Williams. She’d begreat! In wheelchair tennis,Gordon Reid. He’s good andhe’s going to be world No.1.

Who is your favouriteplayer?

Non-disabled, Roger Federer. Thatguy is smooth like chocolate. Hejust plays silky tennis andmakesit look so easy. He has a classicbackhand and is the ultimatecompetitor. Every time peoplesay he is old and past it he comesback and wins another GrandSlam. In wheelchair, there aresomany good players. GordonReid is definitely up there – he’s

an exciting player. Also AndyLapthorne, because you neverknow what is going to happenwith him, and then there’s ShingoKunieda, the fastest, craziest,maddest player out there.

How is the Aegon SchoolsTennis programmeensuring a legacy forLondon 2012?

The legacy is about passingon sport to the next generation,so just by getting out there intoschools. What was really feltwas that in the past we didn’tplace as much emphasis onsport as we should have.In schools it was neglectedand not enough kids knewabout it. They didn’t haveaccess to coaching orequipment. The Aegon SchoolsTennis programme is helpingto do this. We can find thenext wheelchair and non-disabled tennis stars fromthe UK for the future.

Who do you think tennisappeals to the most?

I think tennis appeals toanyone who likes having fun.I don’t think it should be aboutwhat class you are, whatgender you are, whether youhave a disability or your age.Tennis is for everyone. Anyonecan play tennis. Look at me,an old fogey in a wheelchairwho has come from aworking-class background,and I love playing tennis.

Apart from basketballand tennis, what othersports do you play?

I love skiing – it’s amazing– and scuba diving. I’m intoall sorts of sports, especiallyanything that gets me outthere and gets the adrenalinepumping. I think that’s what it’sall about, pushing yourself andfinding your edges.

Do you have any advicefor readers who have adisability and thinktennis is not for them?

Try it. Don’t think about itand read into it that it’s notfor me. Go out there andsurprise yourself. I love it,when the weather’s warm andyou’re outdoors and you’replaying tennis – it’s a greatsport. Hitting a forehanddown the line, booming a serveand improving your wheelchairskills, it’s wicked! And beatingyour opponent… actually,it’s not about beating your

opponent, it’s about takingpart. Ha, as if!

Have you ever beeninvolved with coaching?Is it something that youwould like to do?

I’ve done a little bit of coaching,but I think you have to not wantto be a player any more to wantto coach. At the moment I stillenjoy playing too much tohave the patience to coach.I think it will still be a few moreyears before I do.

IFYOU’DLIKEMORE

INFORMATIONON

TENNISFORDISABLED

PEOPLE,VISIT:

www.tennisfoundation.org.uk

ANYONEFORWHEELCHAIRTENNIS?Scan your Junaio app toenjoy an introduction towheelchair tennis fromParalympic legends PeterNorfolk and Ade Adepitan.

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Documents

BTQ: Issue 10