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2005
Road to Wimbledon Preview |
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8 August 2005
TOP JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYERS SEEK WIMBLEDON GLORY
Wimbledon’s famous grass tennis courts host the 64 boys and
64 girls from every county in England, Scotland and Wales, who have
battled through to the National Finals of The Road to Wimbledon
National 14 and Under Challenge (8-13 August 2005).
Over 14,000 young tennis players entered this year’s tournament,
which began with club closed events between April and June, followed
by county finals, and then the 44 county winners and 20 best runners-up
qualifying for the National Finals starting today.
The Road to Wimbledon 14 and Under Challenge is sponsored by the
All England Club and run in association with the LTA.
The event forms an important element of the Club’s Road to
Wimbledon junior tennis programme, which was launched in 2001 to
encourage tennis clubs throughout the UK to give more support to
junior tennis.
Tim Phillips, Chairman of the All England Club, said: “After
seeing the great talent of Roger Federer and Venus Williams while
winning Wimbledon, I am sure the juniors who qualify for our tournament
will be even more inspired by playing on the Championships’
grass courts. We are really pleased with the progress this event
has made in four years.”
Tournament Director and former British Davis Cup Captain, Paul
Hutchins, said:
“The Road to Wimbledon National 14 and Under Challenge has
expanded significantly and is proving to be highly popular throughout
British tennis clubs. For the 64 boys and 64 girls at next week’s
National Finals, this is their Wimbledon.”
Last year’s singles’ winners were Neil Pauffley (Berkshire)
and Amanda Cunningham (Kent). The winners and runners-up in the
singles will be awarded a week’s training at the LTA’s
winter training base in La Manga.
Written by AELTC
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