LAPTHORNE SET TO MAKE WIMBLEDON HISTORY
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS PLAYER STARS IN EVENTS MAKING THEIR DEBUT
HILLINGDON’S Andy Lapthorne is among four is among four British players from the LTA’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Performance Programme who will contest the wheelchair events at The Championships, Wimbledon, which started this week.
Wildcards for the event included Lapthorne, Jordanne Whiley and Gordon Reid. Two Brits will contest the gentlemen’s wheelchair singles and doubles events, with reigning US Open champion Alfie Hewett already confirmed among the direct entries.
The wheelchair players are part of a total of 14 Brits in the singles main draws at The Championships.
Lapthorne will be one of four players who will make history at Wimbledon as quad singles and doubles events make their debuts on the competition schedule, following last year’s quad doubles exhibition match, which Lapthorne won partnering American David Wagner.
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Lapthorne, who has climbed to number three in this week’s quad singles rankings, after reaching the final of the Open de France Super Series, said: “It’s a dream come true to be playing in the first quad singles and doubles events at Wimbledon and I’m very thankful to Wimbledon for giving me that chance.
“I got an injury in Australia and It’s been tough coming back, but I’ve had some good results over the last couple of weeks and being back at world number three this week helps everything.
“I’m going to be playing doubles with Dylan [Alcott of Australia] this time.
“We get on really well together and he’s done so much for the sport over the last couple of years, so it would be amazing if we could become the first official Wimbledon quad doubles champions together.”
The confirmations were: Gentlemen’s wheelchair singles and doubles, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid; Ladies’ wheelchair singles and doubles, Jordanne Whiley; Quad wheelchair singles and doubles, Andy Lapthorne.
The wheelchair tennis draws at The Championships, Wimbledon, take place on July 11 to 14. For news and updates in the coming weeks follow on Twitter @ the_LTA and @WChairTennisGB.