YOUNG tennis players from across Wiltshire are battling it out at Wiltshire Tennis County Junior Championships, with nearly 400 players and spectators expected to attend the week-long event.
The annual event is taking place from August 24-30 at Marlborough Tennis Club with 107 entries competing across multiple age categories, from under eight to under 18.
Chair at Marlborough Tennis, Andrew Payne, said: “We are delighted to host this event. Grassroots competitive tennis gives young people the opportunity to learn and progress to a high standard. It’s of course a real pleasure to see our own youngsters out competing in the County competition for the first time.”
Rising tennis star, Poppy Marston, is officiating the event as competition official. Poppy started playing at five years old, began competing aged ten and is now a role model at just 21.
Currently playing in British Tours – the highest level of LTA competition – and having played at the first level of professional International Tennis Federation, Poppy is delighted to be a part of the event.
She said: “It’s been really great seeing younger players enjoying sport and competing. Seeing Sophia in the 14 and under category, who won the National Play your Way to Wimbledon this year competing in this tournament was a real pleasure.”
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Tennis Babolat Cup winners Neil (left) and Zac (right) at the Wiltshire Tennis County Junior Championships. Picture: Marlborough Tennis Club
Wiltshire Tennis County Junior Championships is a great opportunity for all young tennis players in the county to play both singles and doubles in a friendly atmosphere.
The first three days saw players winning through in the under 8s, 12 and under and 16 and under categories. The tennis action continues until Saturday including doubles from ages ten to 18, finishing up with singles then mixed doubles for the 14 -18 year olds.
Hilda Moore, winner of the LTA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025 and subsequently awarded a British Empire Medal, said: “It’s so good to see so many clubs and venues from all across the county here this week showing what depth of talent there is in Wiltshire”
Marlborough Tennis Club has seen strong performance in tennis awards both locally and nationally and in recognition was awarded Wiltshire Tennis ‘Club of the Year’ in 2025 and progressed to win the prestigious LTA National ‘Club of the Year’.
Lewis Fletcher, Head Coach at Ramsbury Tennis Club and County Coach, who has just returned from playing in Japan for the British Deaf team, added: “I was really impressed by the standard of play across all the juniors represented and the fair play exhibited by everyone.
“An added bonus was seeing Andrew Lou from our club win his singles category – the hours on court paid off!”
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