'I'm completely blind but I'll play at Wimbledon'
His third year at the legendary venue will see him compete in the Vodafone Play Your Way to Wimbledon national finals."To know you're walking and playing where people like my heroes Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Raducanu, other players like that have walked and played... you feel it in the ground," he said."It's awe-inspiring for us as visually impaired players to know that we are being taken seriously and that we're given the chance to show our skills."
Mr Griffiths was not born blind. At the age of two he had to have both eyes removed to stop the spread of a rare cancer called retinoblastoma.He has been "totally blind" since the procedure but the setback has not stopped him from living a fulfilling life.Previously he played international visually impaired cricket, representing England, as well as football."Life wasn't ever going to deal its cards to me. I deal my cards to it, and if it likes to send them back then I'll deal with them that way," he said. "That was always me and it still is me."He said he picked up tennis in 2019 because he "fancied a sport where you're on your own", which provided him with a change of pace from the other sports he played."Instead of being part of a team and part of a cog in a machine, I wanted a sport that was down to me. If [I make] a bad decision, it's my problem to deal with," he added.
How is tennis adapted?
The LTA, the governing body of tennis in Great Britain, recognises five categories of visual impairment, from B1 (no sight), down to B5 (the most partial sight).For B1 players such as Mr Griffiths, the court of play is significantly reduced in size, the net is lowered, and the ball is allowed to bounce up to three times.Meanwhile the ball itself is also altered to make noise when it is hit and when it bounces.Mr Griffiths said that despite being completely blind, it was standard procedure to play with a blindfold shade regardless, to stop anyone with a degree of light perception from having an advantage.
Looking ahead, Mr Griffiths hopes other people with visual impairments will be inspired to take up tennis as a sport, whether young or old.He said that anyone who wanted to find out more information about getting involved could visit the LTA website or the British Blind Sport website."They'll get you in touch with the nearest [visually impaired] tennis club. There's not loads of them, but if you can it's worth finding the nearest," he said."All I can say is come and have a go, because once you've tried it, you won't be able to let go."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
30 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Goodchild excited to race on home waters in The Ocean Race Europe
The 35-year-old, who lives in France but calls Falmouth home, is representing Team Biotherm in the 4,500-nautical mile multi-stage offshore race which began in Kiel this week and ends in Montenegro on September 20. The opening leg of the contest docks in Portsmouth on August 14, with the race departing from the Royal Yacht Squadron for leg two three days later. 'I'm definitely excited,' said Goodchild, who is joined in the boat by skipper Paul Meilhat, co-skipper Amelie Grassi, Jack Bouttell and Gauthier Le Boc. 'I have spent a lot of my racing life in France, as that is where the offshore racing world is based, but bringing these really cool boats which we sail around the world into Portsmouth is really exciting. 'I will catch up with some old faces and show them what we do, so I'm really looking forward to it and I am hoping there will be a good turnout!' Sam Goodchild will race in The Ocean Race Europe with Team Biotherm (Image: The Ocean Race Europe) Goodchild is one of seven Brits competing in the race this year but there are no UK-based teams, something he hopes can soon change. 'I enjoy France but I live out there for work,' he said. 'I have been over there for the last 10 years for sailing. 'I come back regularly and I still consider the UK home but being over there helps my career the most. 'If we can have more interest in sailing, more people sailing and more British sailors on the start line, that is definitely the direction I want it to go in.' Goodchild was part of the crew who finished second in The Ocean Race two years ago, a worldwide event. He feels he learned plenty from that experience as he targets success this time around. 'Two years ago, it was my first time sailing those sorts of boats so it was a learning curve,' he said. 'The race lasted six months as opposed to six weeks so it was a bit more of an endurance. 'This time, I have been racing in these sorts of boats for the last three or four years non-stop, which changes the whole scenario, so I am looking forward to the challenge. 'Of the seven crews here, they all have good sailors on and the level of competition will be very high, which is what we are looking for.' Sustainability is one of the key aspects of The Ocean Race Europe and it is also a topic close to the heart of Goodchild, who is aware of the impact taking part in a sport he loves can have on the climate. 'The whole team makes an effort as to what we can do to reduce our impact,' he said. 'We travel around Europe, which isn't great, but we try and do it by train, which takes a bit longer but it is nicer and more interesting. "In partnership with the Tara Foundation, we have also installed a microscope on board to capture microplankton for use by scientists (Eco Taxa Database), who then use and analyse the data. 'It is a big part of our sport at the moment, what we can do to reduce our impact, so we all have to do our bit.' Seven international teams, seven stopovers, 4,500 nautical miles, racing for the ocean. The Ocean Race Europe comes to Portsmouth 14 - 17 August - the city where the race first began in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race.
The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Alice Capsey hits overdue Hundred half-century as Invincibles clip Phoenix wings
Alice Capsey's first half-century in 10 innings in The Hundred lifted Oval Invincibles to their first victory of this season after they downed Birmingham Phoenix by 22 runs at Edgbaston. Former Australia captain Meg Lanning swiped 36 off 19 balls in a 76-run opening stand with Invincibles skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill (33), laying the foundations for Capsey to capitalise on the fine start. The 21-year-old has struggled for England in the past 12 months, but she has shone for Surrey recently and demonstrated flashes of her best form back on the biggest of stages in a sparkling 29-ball 52. Paige Scholfield added 25 not out off 16 deliveries as the Invincibles, who lost their first two games this year, posted 174 for five, their highest ever total and the third best in the event's history. Amanda-Jade Wellington, out for a golden duck, took centre stage in the reply, following up a juggling catch to dismiss Georgia Voll (22) with a no-look underarm back flick to run out Emma Lamb (25). In between the Australia's leg spin did for Marie Kelly and Ellyse Perry, who was looking dangerous on 29 before feathering behind, ultimately ending the Phoenix's charge as they settled for 152 for six.
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rollie insists Scots will brush off background noise and hit top form for World Cup challenge
Full-back Chloe Rollie insists Scotland's women have 'come back stronger' after uncertainty over contracts threatened to derail their World Cup preparations. Rollie, who was one of the first players to obtain a professional contract with Scottish Rugby in 2017, said a failure to conclude negotiations ahead of such a momentous occasion was not the 'best timing', and admitted it was 'tough' on some of her fellow team-mates. Several players are still waiting to hear whether their deals will be renewed post World Cup — an issue which captain Rachel Malcolm previously called 'unfair' and 'disruptive'. 'It's not the best situation to be in,' admitted Rollie. 'It's not the best timing, either. But as a squad, no matter what situation they're in, as individuals, we've managed to really pull together. 'We've always brushed off the negatives or the background noise. And we've just come together even stronger, to work as a squad and to get the results that we want as a team. 'We know what our staff deserve and we know what Bryan (Easson) deserves on his last competition.' Easson will leave his role as Scotland head coach at the end of the tournament, a move which Rollie insists was a blow. 'Personally, I'm absolutely gutted about it,' said the 30-year-old. 'I think it's just a shame, how it's worked out. As a group, we all love his work, love what he's done for us, love how much he's pushed us on. How much he's changed us as a squad. How professional he's made us. How he's lifted our standards. 'I think for him personally, it's the right thing that he needs to do. I think it's his time to move on. But it's just quite upsetting and disappointing the way that it has come about, with what's been going on in the background. And how we've also lost our attack coach as well.' Easson's departure was announced in July — just weeks ahead of the World Cup. Malcolm called the revelation a 'shock' and admitted it had been 'upsetting' so close to such a vital competition. Rollie agreed that it had been 'completely wrong', but insisted the decision had been taken out of Easson's hands. Asked whether she believed the decision to go was entirely of his own volition, the Jedburgh-born player said: 'I think not one hundred per cent, no. But it's just the way that the cycle of rugby is just now. It's the changes that are happening. They all have a knock-on effect. And that's just what's happened in this situation. 'I think the timing of it is completely wrong. But also with that being out of his hands, we don't hold that against him. It's the way it's worked out.' Rollie, who will play for Toulon Provence Mediterranee next season, says she's now 'excited' to get going ahead of Scotland's opening match against Wales next Saturday — and to re-write the wrongs of the previous World Cup in 2021. 'It's a massive opportunity,' she added. 'From the last World Cup, we kind of just felt like we turned up and were just a number. We just went through the motions. 'Now we want to go there and actually perform. We want to put our stamp on the world stage and put in performances that get us wins, not just performances we're happy with. More of getting over that finish line and getting the wins that we deserve.'
