Wrexham to host three international tennis tournaments events

It’s not just football putting Wrexham sports on the map with a series of international tennis tournaments set to descend on the city. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

During April and May, Wrexham will welcome three national and international tennis competitions – supported by free tennis ‘give it a go’ events for the local community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Tennis Europe Junior Tour – at Wrexham Tennis Centre (1–8 April) – is the first of three international tennis events taking place in the city. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Expecting to host over 600 players from across the globe, Wrexham represents the Welsh leg of the Europe-wide event series. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Now in its 33rd year, the Junior Tour has become the tournament of choice for the launch of many a successful tennis career. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Junior Tour has heralded the arrival of world-class tennis players such as Justine Henin, Roger Federer, Caroline Wozniacki, and Sir Andy Murray. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Players wishing to follow in the match points (or footsteps) of their tennis idols at this year’s Tennis Europe competition will be aiming to achieve coveted European ranking points. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flying the flag for Wales, tennis prodigies Awen Gwilym-Davies and Niall Pickerd-Barua from Cardiff will be looking to ace the competition. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Neither Awen nor Niall are strangers to international competition – with each of them competing at the renowned Junior Orange Bowl Championships in the USA last December. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Welsh players to play against the best from the UK and further afield – which makes Tennis Europe events so special,” explained Awen. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We can share stories, experiences and learn from each other, and if Ryan and Rob want to pop along after the football, we’d be happy to have a knock with them too! A special pob lwc to all the Welsh players.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Niall commented: “I am really looking forward to playing the Tennis Europe event again, in Wrexham. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I won the under 12 event last year, so I am obviously excited to compete. I know it will be tough, as I will be playing in the older age group this time, but I will do my best.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Offering a further opportunity for players to compete at a high-performance level, April will also see Wrexham Tennis Centre host the highest-ranked tournament in Wales – the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) Junior Welsh Open (8 – 16 April). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Players from across the UK – under 10s category to under 18s –– will have a chance test out their drop shots and pick up some LTA British ranking points as they strive to become Wales’s top players; following the likes of 2021 Wimbledon Wildcard Mimi Xu and Welsh number 1 Evan Hoyt. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The tennis tournament timeline continues into May as the international courts open once again, welcoming players from across the globe to Wrexham for the ITF World Junior Tour, from 20 – 26 May. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Tennis Wales Competitions and Event Manager Mark Lewis said: “Wrexham Tennis Centre is an important national, and international facility. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The three upcoming tournaments, that will showcase the best in junior tennis, underline how Welsh tennis is thriving and continuing to contribute to local, national, and international sporting communities. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We look forward to seeing many of the players at these events will go on to big things on the senior circuit.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To further support and bolster the tennis scene within the local community – who are welcoming the tournaments with open arms – Tennis Wales, in partnership with Wrexham Tennis Centre and Wrexham County Borough Council will be hosting a series of free events later in the year, where children and families can pick up a racket and give tennis a go. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

With tennis fever sweeping across Wrexham, July 10 – 14 will mark a school’s roadshow where tennis will be taken into 10 schools across the city, giving around 1000 schoolchildren the chance to try tennis. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Following the roadshow, Wrexham Tennis Centre will host an open day on 15 July, where families will be able to enjoy fun-filled tennis activities for free. There are also plans for a pop-up tennis court to be installed in the city centre. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Jonathan Miller, Health and Wellbeing Lead at Wrexham County Borough Council said: “Tennis is an important sport for us here in Wrexham. We are proud to have Wrexham Tennis Centre, a venue which attracts high level tennis events such as these. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The centre is also important to the community, who can access the facilities weekly to play and socialise, while it a great place to volunteer and work in tennis. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Playing tennis brings great physical and mental benefits and we believe, like Tennis Wales it’s important to ‘open up’ the sport to everybody.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​