3 days ago
Youngster dreaming of Wimbledon debut after reaching finals of national competition
Highgate's Holly Brewester became a finalist on the manicured lawns of Wimbledon after an unforgettable experience at SW19.
Brewester, 13, who attends Highgate School and lives in Highgate, 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 by Vodafone 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.
Brewester, who described Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka as her tennis icon, finished runner-up in the girls' U14 singles final – and revealed it was an experience she will never forget.
She said: "It's a really good feeling to make the final because I've been here the whole week fighting to make it.
"I played really well in all of my matches and even though I didn't get the result that I wanted.
'I know a few people here that I've played with before and the environment is nice, it's quite calm. The people here treat you really well.
"It's really inspired me to carry on my tennis because it's so amazing to be at Wimbledon and hopefully I get here as a professional one day.
'Hopefully I will go pro, it would be great to do that. It's amazing being here so it does feel like that is a little bit more possible."
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 Brewester representing Coolhurst 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 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.'
