Latest news with #BarclaysFreeParkTennis
The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Frances Tiafoe backs efforts to expand grassroots tennis in UK
Much of that is down to the expense of equipment and limited access to properly maintained courts and coaching, in practice fencing the game off from some demographics. Frances Tiafoe was speaking alongside Ian Wright and Clare Balding at an event to mark one year of Barclays Free Park Tennis scheme (PA) Current world number 12 Tiafoe, whose family immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone during the 90s, cites his early introduction to the game as an outlier. Had his father not worked as janitor at a tennis centre in Tiafoe's hometown Maryland, he believes he would never have taken up a game which was seen as off limits to people from less affluent backgrounds. 'You give a chance to people in inner cities, people who wouldn't be able to do a particular sport,' said Tiafoe, who was speaking at an event in London to mark one year of Barclays Free Park tennis scheme, which provides facilities and coaching with the aim of removing barriers between children and grassroots sport. 'In America, that's why everyone's so quick to play basketball. All you need is a ball and a hoop. Same as (football) over here (in the UK).' He believes that initiatives like Free Park Tennis – billed as the sport's answer to Park Run and which provides for free the coaches and equipment many would otherwise be unable to afford – will provide the stimulus in the UK for barriers to fall away. 'Tennis you need rackets and strings and shoes, it becomes very upper echelon,' he said. 'This way everyone will be able to it. That's what means a lot to me.' Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist in 2022 and 2024, will be aiming to improve upon his Wimbledon record – where he has never progressed beyond the fourth round – when play begins on Monday. The 27-year-old is drawn to face the Dane Elmer Moller in the first round with a possible second-round meeting with Brit Cameron Norrie. He believes that more players from his background will in future feel they can follow in his footsteps, with the UK leading the way in breaking down barriers. 'There'd be three or four of me sitting here if we had these schemes (in the US),' he said. 'That's why I'm so passionate about these type of things.' Tiafoe was knocked out of last year's Wimbledon by Carlos Alcaraz (Zac Goodwin/PA) BBC Sport presenter Ian Wight, also speaking at the event, said his own experience of growing up on a council estate in south London pushed him and his peers towards football because sports like tennis appeared closed off. 'When we were younger, you go the tennis court where I lived in Brockley, it was always empty,' he said. 'I didn't see anybody on there – white, black, nobody. 'There were people who played football with us just because it's easy to get a football and all of you can play. I'm sure some of those guys, if they had the facilities from this kind of initiative, they would have done it. '
Glasgow Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Ian Wright says England's bench could be key to Euro 2025 success
Sarina Wiegman's side were leading 1-0 in Catalonia earlier in June when Claudia Pina was introduced for the world champions just before the hour mark, the Barcelona forward scoring twice in 10 minutes to deny England a place in the semi-finals and lay bare the size of their task if they are to avenge their 2023 World Cup final defeat next month. The Lionesses go into their title defence, which begins against France in Letzigrund on July 5, reeling from the loss of Euro 2022 captain Millie Bright who has withdrawn from the squad, as well as Mary Earps and Fran Kirby who have both retired, decisions that Wright said he supported. Ian Wright was speaking with Clare Balding and Francis Tiafoe at an event to mark one year of Barclays Free Park Tennis scheme (PA) 'It's sad to see Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Fran Kirby leave the squad at this stage,' said Wright, who was speaking at an event in London to mark one year of Barclays Free Park Tennis scheme, which provides facilities and coaching with the aim of removing barriers between children and grassroots sport. 'Obviously they've got their reasons and I'll back them whatever those reasons are because of the calibre of players they are and what they've brought to the women's game. 'But from a squad perspective, we're getting ready to play tournament football which we've been very successful in however we're playing.' England were a clear second best to the world champions despite taking a first-half lead though Alessia Russo, with shades of Spain's commanding victory when the sides met in the World Cup final in Sydney. Millie Bright has withdrawn from the Lionesses squad ahead of Euro 2025 (Adam Davy/PA) The home side dominated possession of the ball and limited the Lionesses to only four shots on goal, though it took the arrival of Pina in the second half before the world champions broke through. 'We weren't able to keep the ball and do well enough to fight off a Spanish side that are very ball-retentive and creative,' said Wright. 'That's going to tire you out at some stage. 'That's something they're going to have to deal with, especially the fact that Spain were able to bring on somebody like Claudia Pina who scored the winning goal. 'Substitutes are vitally important now. We do need Lauren James fit obviously, but then it's down to the team to know what they're doing. They do know how to play tournament football.' Spain beat England to lift the World Cup in Sydney in 2023 (Zac Goodwin/PA) Wright also pointed to the importance of investment in grassroots sport if a new generation of Lionesses and talent across other sports is to emerge. 'When I was younger we didn't have anything like this (Free Park Tennis) what has been provided,' he said. 'I want to make sure that my voice is heard with anything to do with grassroots sport. 'This sort of initiative gives equipment, it give facilities whatever your ability. That is something that when I was younger was a pipe dream.'
