Berkshire's Sophie Drakeford-Lewis achieved the dream of a lifetime last week when she smashed a forehand winner past a former Wimbledon semi-finalist at the All England Club.
The 15-year-old has been inspired by the performances of Andy Mur...ray and Laura Robson – and is now planning a return visit to SW19 to make headlines of her own.
The Abbey School pupil won the girls singles crown at last year’s HSBC Road to Wimbledon tournament with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Staffordshire’s Megan Davies and then sealed a 6-2, 6-2 victory alongside Worcestershire’s Ellie-Rose Griffiths in the doubles.
The prize was a chance to enjoy a coaching clinic with four-time semi-finalist Tim Henman during Wimbledon and Drakeford-Lewis enjoyed her appearance on Court 19.
“It was a great experience to be playing on one of the courts during the actual Wimbledon Championships and to have Tim Henman there as well makes it very special indeed,” she said.
“It’s always a British player’s ambition to win or even just feature at Wimbledon. I know I haven’t just been in the main Championship but it was nice to be a part of the event.
“It’s a great motivation to see British women like Heather Watson coming through and making the world’s top-100 – it is very inspiring.
“I’m now the UK’s No.1 tennis player at under-18 and under-16 – it’s about trying to improve my international ranking now.”
Henman put some of the next generation of British players through their paces as part of the grass roots tournament.
And he said: “For someone like Sophie to get the chance to have a Wimbledon experience is only going to benefit her if she comes back here as a player in juniors or seniors.
“It’s a massive opportunity for a British player and we are lucky to have Wimbledon as our home tournament and it’s an asset not a burden.”
The HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14 & Under Challenge is the UK’s largest national junior grass court tournament and forms part of HSBC’s investment in the stars of the future.
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