Wheelchair tennis giant Whiley sets her sights on fourth straight SW19 victory

JORDANNE WHILEY will be out to add to her long list of Grand Slam titles as the wheelchair tennis events get under way at Wimbledon tomorrow, writes Spencer Vignes.

The 25-year-old from Ickenham joins forces again with Yui Kamiji of Japan as she goes in search of a fourth consecutive Wimbledon ladies’ wheelchair doubles title.

In 2016 the pair won a hat-trick of Grand Slams, having won all four coveted calendar Slam doubles honours in 2014, making Whiley the only British tennis player to achieve such a feat.

However her progress this year has been dogged by a wrist injury that sidelined her until June when she appeared in the French Open at Roland Garros.

“I didn’t know if I would be able to play Roland Garros, so I didn’t want to commit to Yui and have to let her down,” said Whiley. “But this is my favourite Grand Slam so obviously I want to do well. Whoever I play I know it’s going to be a tough match. I’ve got some super memories from Wimbledon, especially in the doubles, and am looking forward to trying to make it a fourth doubles title with Yui.”

Whiley is not the only local competing at SW19. Eliz Maloney – who lives in Rickmansworth, trains in Northwood and attends Harefield Academy – is playing in the girls’ singles and doubles. The 16-year-old enjoyed a first round singles win against Maria Jose Portillo Ramirez of Mexico 6-2 2-6 6-4. “This is the first time I’ve played here in singles,” said Maloney. “I only heard I’d been given a wildcard into the singles two days before the draw.

“The nerves didn’t really begin until I walked out but I managed to hold my serve in the first game which made me settle down.”