National coach Chris Cash has named a seven-strong Great Britain squad to compete at the European Deaf Tennis Championships in Germany next month. Devon's Peter Willcox is one of the team.
The squad was selected this week following the recent National Deaf Tennis Championships held at Welwyn Garden City.
The week-long European Deaf Tennis Championships will take place in Koblenz, near Cologne in Germany and run from July 14-21 2012.
Cash has picked a squad consisting of experience and youth with four players competing in the inaugural junior event at the championships.
The squad is:
MEN:
- Lewis Fletcher, 26 from Swindon, Wiltshire
- Peter Willcox, 30 from Tiverton, Devon
- Ben Kelly (seniors and juniors), 18 from St Davis, Cornwall
- Jack Clifton (seniors and juniors), 16 from Purley, Surrey
LADIES:
- Cathy Fletcher, 29 from Swindon, Wiltshire
- Bethany Brookes (seniors and juniors), 18 from Rygate, Surrey
- Sophie Paul (juniors only), 15 from Bradford, Yorkshire
National coach Chris Cash said: “I’m very excited about the European Deaf Tennis Championships and the squad we will be taking along.
“We’re in a bit of a transition phase in British deaf tennis as we have seen a few experienced players retire and be replaced with some promising youngsters.
“There is a junior event at the tournament for the very first time so it will give the likes of Ben, Jack, Bethany and Sophie the chance to have more time on court.
“I’ve got high hopes for the whole squad and I’m looking to them to bring back some medals.”
The squad will reconvene at the National Tennis Centre on July 9 for a final training camp before jetting off to Koblenz ahead of the start of the tournament.