A BROMSGROVE student is celebrating after reaching the quarter-final of a tennis competition on the famed courts of Wimbledon’s All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Callum Hooper, 14, who attends South Bromsgrove High, featured in the national finals at the Play Your Way to Wimbledon event.
Thousands of players, aged 14 and under and 18 and under, took part in the qualifying stages this year, leading to county and regional finals in June and July.
The winners of the regional finals, including Callum, progressed to the national finals on Wimbledon’s Aorangi Courts, where all-time greats including Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have honed their craft.
Callum fell at the quarter-final stage of the boys’ singles but was still thrilled to attend Wimbledon and revealed it was an experience he would never forget.
The competition is aimed at inspiring the next generation of tennis talent, allowing junior players to follow in the footsteps of their heroes and providing a chance to play on Wimbledon’s iconic courts.
Formerly known as the Road to Wimbledon, the competition was launched in March and is delivered in partnership by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), The All England Lawn Tennis Club, and Vodafone.
Former British number one Laura Robson was in attendance to cheer on the youngsters at SW19 and offer her experience and advice.
She said: “It’s just so cool to get the chance to play on these courts.
“I still get a buzz every time I walk out there, so I can’t imagine how they’re feeling.
“I played Road to Wimbledon when I was much younger and I’m still friends with some of the people I played against.
“It’s amazing to see how much it’s grown.”
Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK’s largest individual mass participation tennis competition. The All England Club and LTA are proud to partner with Vodafone to expand the competition to more players in 2023 with an adult doubles pathway, alongside visual impairment, learning disability and wheelchair tennis categories.
