Junior tennis ace lifts national title at Wimbledon
Thousands of players took part in the qualifying stages this year, leading to county and regional finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on Wimbledon's Aorangi Courts last week.
Our grass courts are back in action 🤩
This week, they're hosting the Finals of Play Your Way to #Wimbledon, powered by @VodafoneUK 🎾 pic.twitter.com/y4FET2PzUJ — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 7, 2025
Brown-Devall, who described Ben Shelton as his tennis icon, soared to victory in the boys' U14 singles event to clinch the crown at one of the world's most iconic sporting venues.
He said: "It's so good I just couldn't believe it when I won.
"It's very emotional because I wasn't expecting it when I can here at the start of the week. I didn't know anyone and didn't know what to expect.
"When I won my first match, I was really proud because I typically haven't played that well on grass before.
"To have my family here watching is really nice and this has only just inspired me to become professional one day and play on centre court."
This year's tournament delivered over 10,000 playing opportunities with thousands of singles and doubles players taking part at 800 venues, leading to county and area finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on the All England Club's Aorangi Courts from 3 – 9 August 2025, with Brown-Devall representing Writtle Tennis Club.
The competition aims to broaden playing opportunities and to inspire people of all ages and abilities to play tennis and follow in the footsteps of their tennis heroes by competing for a chance to play on Wimbledon's iconic courts.
In addition to 14 and under singles, 18 and under doubles and adult doubles draws, the categories include wheelchair (adult and juniors), learning disability and visually impaired competitions. The national finals will also see the return of popular para-standing and deaf tennis exhibition matches held during the week.
World No.1 wheelchair doubles partners and Vodafone ambassadors Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid were in attendance to cheer on the youngsters at SW19 and offer his experience and advice.
'We would have loved to have had something like this when we were younger and playing'' said Hewett.
'Play your Way to Wimbledon is a massive event for someone to pick up a racket for the first time or start playing again if they haven't for a while.
'It's about being active at grassroots level, making friends and new tennis partners and that is the beauty of events like this.'
Reid added: 'We want tennis to be available and accessible to everybody and get as many people as possible enjoying the sport.
'This event encapsulates that perfectly and we're proud to be a part of it.'
Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition. It is delivered by Vodafone, in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club, forming part of Vodafone's ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots tennis in the UK and making the sport more accessible for players of all ages and abilities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Alfie Hewett pinpoints what went wrong at Wimbledon ahead of US Open hat-trick bid
The Norfolk wheelchair star, 27, grabbed New York glory in both 2022 and 2023 and following a break in the calendar last season due to the Paris 2024 Paralympics, returns to Flushing Meadows with a thrilling three-peat on the cards Alfie Hewett insists he has all eyes on remedying his Wimbledon mistakes as he bids to clinch a consecutive hat-trick of US Open crowns. The Norfolk wheelchair star, 27, grabbed New York glory in both 2022 and 2023 and following a break in the calendar last season due to the Paris 2024 Paralympics, returns to Flushing Meadows with a thrilling three-peat on the cards. Hewett won a career 10th Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in January, adding doubles victory alongside long-time partner on the court Gordon Reid in both Melbourne and at Roland Garros. Now, coming off the back of defeats in the men's wheelchair singles and doubles finals at his home Slam at Wimbledon, Hewett admits that he is ready to get back to winning ways on the other side of the Atlantic. "I think I've moved on [from Wimbledon]," he said. "There is always a tournament round the corner and so my attention is now on the US Open. "My Wimbledon memories are still good, we would have liked to get the trophy but we've analysed the performance and we will work on those reasons moving forward. "Being a Brit at Wimbledon is always the pinnacle of the calendar for us anyway. Whenever I turn up to a tournament, I want to do the best I can in both singles and doubles. "We are all very highly motivated at the moment and [the US Open] is the final major pillar of the year so we want to do well there." Hewett and Reid were in attendance at the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition, Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, last week. The duo were there to cheer on the youngsters at SW19 and offer experience and advice, and Hewett noted the importance of the event in providing inspirational opportunities within grassroots tennis across the UK. 'We would have loved to have had something like this when we were younger and playing'' said Hewett. "For wheelchair players, there is not a lot of opportunity to play on the grass until you get to the higher levels so to play at Wimbledon is such a good eye opening experience. 'Play your Way to Wimbledon is a massive event for someone to pick up a racket for the first time or start playing again if they haven't for a while. It's about being active at grassroots level, making friends and new tennis partners and that is the beauty of events like this." Reid added: 'We want tennis to be available and accessible to everybody and get as many people as possible enjoying the sport. This event encapsulates that perfectly and we're proud to be a part of it.' Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition. It is delivered by Vodafone, in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club, forming part of Vodafone's ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots tennis in the UK and making the sport more accessible for players of all ages and abilities.
South Wales Argus
14 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Tennis duo soar to national doubles title at Wimbledon
Daniel, 28, and Vera, 35, who represent Kent at tennis and live in Crystal Palace, featured in the national finals at Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, which is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition and is delivered in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club. Thousands of players took part in the qualifying stages this year, leading to county and regional finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on Wimbledon's Aorangi Courts last week. Daniel and Vera, who described Jannik Sinner as their tennis idol, claimed victory in the women's doubles competition on the famous grass courts of Wimbledon and revealed it was an experience they will never forget. Our grass courts are back in action 🤩 This week, they're hosting the Finals of Play Your Way to #Wimbledon, powered by @VodafoneUK 🎾 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 7, 2025 Daniel said: "It's crazy, absolutely crazy. We said at the beginning just enjoy it, take each game and each point as it comes. We didn't expect [to win] at all. 'I competed two years ago but didn't get past the round robin stage, so this is a very different experience going further.' Vera added: 'I never thought I would be playing here. I played a lot of tennis as a kid and you obviously always think about Wimbledon, even if it's not the actual Grand Slam, just being here is amazing. 'It's very surreal to play here, also because we don't usually play on grass so it's a really nice feeling.' This year's tournament delivered over 10,000 playing opportunities with thousands of singles and doubles players taking part at 800 venues, leading to county and area finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on the All England Club's Aorangi Courts from 3 – 9 August 2025. The competition aims to broaden playing opportunities and to inspire people of all ages and abilities to play tennis and follow in the footsteps of their tennis heroes by competing for a chance to play on Wimbledon's iconic courts. In addition to 14 and under singles, 18 and under doubles and adult doubles draws, the categories also included wheelchair (adult and juniors), learning disability and visually impaired competitions. The national finals also saw the return of popular para-standing and deaf tennis exhibition matches held during the week. World No.1 wheelchair doubles partners and Vodafone ambassadors Alfie Hewett OBE and Gordon Reid OBE were in attendance to cheer on the players at SW19 and offer their experience and advice. 'We would have loved to have had something like this when we were younger and playing'' said Hewett. 'Play your Way to Wimbledon is a massive event for someone to pick up a racket for the first time or start playing again if they haven't for a while. 'It's about being active at grassroots level, making friends and new tennis partners and that is the beauty of events like this.' Reid added: 'We want tennis to be available and accessible to everybody and get as many people as possible enjoying the sport. 'This event encapsulates that perfectly and we're proud to be a part of it.' Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition. It is delivered by Vodafone, in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club, forming part of Vodafone's ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots tennis in the UK and making the sport more accessible for players of all ages and abilities.
South Wales Argus
14 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Young tennis duo claim national title on Wimbledon's hallowed lawns
Arif and Seed, 14, who both attend King Edwards Grammar School and live in Chelmsford, featured in the national finals at Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, which is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition and is delivered in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club. Thousands of players took part in the qualifying stages this year, leading to county and regional finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on Wimbledon's Aorangi Courts last week. Arif, who described Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz as his tennis idols, soared to victory in the boys' U18 doubles finals alongside close friend and schoolmate Seed and revealed it was an experience he will never forget. He said: "I was just quite happy to be here so it feels really special to win. "There is no one I would rather win with here than Kai. We are both quite relaxed and it's always better playing with someone you know. Seed added: "It was a really good atmosphere and it's really busy which makes you a little bit nervous but apart from that it's good. "It's really good to be here and to win with someone like Kam because he is so good. "I'm really happy to get the overall prize. "I came last year for a school trip and a few years ago with my family. "It was never really a big dream of mine but I used to want to be a professional tennis player. I really hope it can help with my composure and learning how to handle pressure in everyday situations." Our grass courts are back in action 🤩 This week, they're hosting the Finals of Play Your Way to #Wimbledon, powered by @VodafoneUK 🎾 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 7, 2025 This year's tournament delivered over 10,000 playing opportunities with thousands of singles and doubles players taking part at 800 venues, leading to county and area finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on the All England Club's Aorangi Courts from 3 – 9 August 2025, with Arif representing Hampton Sports and Leisure Tennis Club. The competition aims to broaden playing opportunities and to inspire people of all ages and abilities to play tennis and follow in the footsteps of their tennis heroes by competing for a chance to play on Wimbledon's iconic courts. In addition to 14 and under singles, 18 and under doubles and adult doubles draws, the categories also included wheelchair (adult and juniors), learning disability and visually impaired competitions. The national finals also saw the return of popular para-standing and deaf tennis exhibition matches held during the week. World No.1 wheelchair doubles partners and Vodafone ambassadors Alfie Hewett OBE and Gordon Reid OBE were in attendance to cheer on the players at SW19 and offer their experience and advice. 'We would have loved to have had something like this when we were younger and playing,' said Hewett. 'Play Your Way to Wimbledon is a massive event for someone to pick up a racket for the first time or start playing again if they haven't for a while. 'It's about being active at grassroots level, making friends and new tennis partners and that is the beauty of events like this.' Reid added: 'We want tennis to be available and accessible to everybody and get as many people as possible enjoying the sport. 'This event encapsulates that perfectly and we're proud to be a part of it.' Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition. It is delivered by Vodafone, in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club, forming part of the Vodafone's ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots tennis in the UK and making the sport more accessible for players of all ages and abilities.
