Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation’s Head of Disability Player Performance has announced his players selected to represent Great Britain in the 1st World Deaf Tennis Championships to be held at Nottingham Tennis Centre on 20 - 26 July 2015.
Junior and senior events will be played during the championships, which are set to feature more than 80 players from over 20 countries and which are organised by the Tennis Foundation in association with UK Deaf Sport.
Catherine Fletcher, National Deaf Tennis Coach
Stuart Wilkinson, Tennis Foundation Lead Programme Coach
Men
· Lewis Fletcher (Burderop, Wiltshire)
· Peter Willcox (Hindhead, Surrey)
· Nicholas Ansell (Watford, Hertfordshire)
· Jack Clifton (Purley, Surrey)
· Esah Hayat (East Finchley, London)
Women
· Bethany Brookes (Reigate, Surrey)
· Beth Simmons (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
· Valerie Copenhagen (Ruislip, Middlesex)
· Phoebe Suthers (Elland, West Yorkshire)
Juniors
· Phoebe Suthers (Elland, West Yorkshire)
· Toby Clifton (Purley, Surrey)
· Esah Hayat (East Finchley, London)
Geraint Richards commented: “We have a team of British players for the inaugural World Deaf Tennis Champions with a tremendous blend of experience and youth. Over the years Great Britain has enjoyed some memorable moments on the international deaf tennis arena, including Beth Simmons, Pete Willcox and Lewis Fletcher being members of Great Britain teams that have won gold and silver medals in the Dresse and Maere Cup, the world team championships of deaf tennis, and I am confident that we have a squad of players that will do themselves proud in their quest for titles in Nottingham."
"We also have a very talented group of young players in Esah, Toby and Phoebe and this is a very exciting opportunity for them to showcase their talents on home soil after making their Great Britain debuts in 2014."
Catherine Fletcher commented: "After representing Great Britain as a players for many years I am so excited and proud that Great Britain is hosting the first World Deaf Tennis Championships. I've played alongside many of the players we have selected in the Great Britain squad and against many of the world's best players that we are proud to be welcoming to Nottingham. Some, including myself, have very happy memories of past British Open Deaf Championships in Nottingham and I know that we are in for another tremendously exciting week of tennis.
"We have the opportunity to showcase the very best in deaf tennis and also offer the opportunity for visitors to pick up a racket themselves in our free 'come and try' session on Saturday 25 July in our drive to continue the development of deaf tennis."
Lee Dolby Director of Development at UK Deaf Sport said "It has been fantastic to work in partnership with The Tennis Foundation to secure the hosting of this international deaf sporting event. We are very excited to see the progress of the GB team and especially the young players that show that the sport has a strong future and is in good hands. We hope that this event will highlight to the nation the wealth of talent and ability that we have in deaf sport and we are sure that these championships will inspire deaf and hard of hearing people across the country to get involved and reach their full potential in sport”
Tickets for the 1st World Deaf Tennis Championships are on sale via Ticket Factory for just £5 and are available via the website: www.worlddeaftennischamps.co.uk.
Beth Simmons
Esah Hayat
Lewis Fletcher