This August, four South Wales tennis venues will play host to Wales’ premier tennis competition — The Tennis Wales Cymru National Tennis and Padel Championships.
With matches at Penarth Lawn Tennis Club (LTC), Penarth Windsor Lawn Tennis Club, David Lloyd Cardiff and Newport Tennis Centre, this year’s competition will run from 20-27 August.
The Championships, which have been running for over 40 years, will see more than 300 Welsh players take to the court — all competing for a coveted, National Championship title.
Alongside the standard junior and senior singles/doubles tournaments, 2023’s competition will see an increased number of Visually Impaired events, in addition to the Championship’s first ever Ladies’ Wheelchair contest — with a wider 20% increase in disabled players taking part vs. last year.
These additions reflect the wider picture seen across Wales in 2022-23, with the LTA reporting that 521 monthly participants took part in the Open Court Programme – a UK-wide scheme that actively promotes and delivers opportunities for disabled people to get involved in tennis – from January-April 2023, compared to 132 for the same period in 2022.
Mark Lewis, Competition and Events Manager at Tennis Wales said: “We’re proud to be presenting such an inclusive event this year. Our mission at Tennis Wales is to provide opportunities and inspiration for players of all ages and abilities to enter centre court… And with thanks to the support of players, volunteers, clubs and coaches, we’re doing just that.”
To accommodate the additional tournaments and growing number of players taking part in the Championship, the Wheelchair events will take place at Newport Tennis Centre with David Lloyd Cardiff welcoming the Visually Impaired competition to its courts.
In line with last year’s competition, Penarth Windsor LTC and Penarth LTC will see the return of the junior and senior singles and doubles events.
Among those putting their best serve forward in Penarth are renowned Welsh junior players Oliver Page, Archie Grey, and Connor Flynn — who has enjoyed success on the junior international circuit this year. Commenting on the Championships, Archie said:
“The Cymru Champs are always a highlight of my year. In the height of the summer tennis season, it’s a perfect chance to compete on home soil, while socialising with the friends I’ve made from other tournaments across Wales and beyond!”
Mark Lewis from Tennis Wales added: “Whilst events such as this are key for showcasing Welsh talent, including future Mimi Xu’s or Viktor Frydrych’s, it’s a really great opportunity to unite players from across the nation over two common themes — tennis, and Welsh pride.
“From all of us here at Tennis Wales, we’d like to wish a big pob lwc to everyone that’s taking part!”
