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The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Britain's leading trio have more on the line than just pride at Wimbledon
And, unlike in previous generations, when competition on the court often resulted in strained relations off it, Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal are proving that rivalry really can be friendly. After two years as the British number one, Boulter was replaced at the top of the domestic tree earlier this month by Raducanu, the woman she had previously usurped. Going into Eastbourne this week, Raducanu led Boulter by just a handful of points, while Kartal is the newcomer on the block, with her ranking having climbed almost 250 places in a year to 49. 'It's really nice to see the state of British tennis getting better and better every single year,' said Boulter. 'I feel like I'm extremely happy to see great people doing really good things.' On being overtaken by Raducanu, the 28-year-old added: 'Of course, I personally want to be getting my ranking moving in the right direction. I'm very happy for her to be British number one. But, at the same time, it's going to be fun for me to chase her now.' In contrast to her record-breaking emergence at the top of the sport four years ago, Raducanu has been making steady progress since returning at the start of last year from surgery on both wrists and one ankle. Physical frailties remain, and an ongoing issue with a back spasm prompted her to pull out of last week's tournament in Berlin, ending her hopes of a Wimbledon seeding. Raducanu has shown she can pull off big results, twice beating top-10 players on grass last season, but she has the most points to defend having made the fourth round at Wimbledon last year. 'I think having Katie in front, it was nice for me to have something to chase,' said the 22-year-old, who played doubles with Boulter at Queen's Club. 'Now I'm sure she's going to enjoy that with me. We have a healthy competition between us two. I want to see her do well, she wants to see me do well.' Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal embrace following a match in Nottingham (Bradley Collyer/PA) Arriving quickly in the rear-view mirror, meanwhile, is Kartal, who has not looked back since reaching the third round of Wimbledon as a qualifier last year, making it three British women in the top 50. The 23-year-old, a former junior rival of Raducanu, also made an impressive debut in the Billie Jean King Cup this year, and Anne Keothavong's side will head to the finals in Shenzhen in September looking to better last year's semi-final run. 'We're all very close and spend a lot of time together when we're at home training,' said Kartal of the triumvirate. 'To have us three all together, I think maybe sometimes it is in the back of our heads but I think that's a good mentality, it makes us push harder in training since you know you've got two of your team-mates that are trying to do the same thing. Mimi Xu is going to Wimbledon! 🏴 — Tennis Wales (@tenniswales) June 18, 2025 'I think it's really good for us to have that rivalry and it's really good for the sport as well. I think we're in a really good place for women's tennis.' While there is currently a gap after Kartal, Wimbledon is a chance for another exciting trio to start making names for themselves. Mimi Xu, 17, and 16-year-olds Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic have all been given wild cards for the women's singles for the first time after success in the junior game. Boulter believes having sparring partners at an early age can accelerate their progress, saying: 'I don't feel like I necessarily had that many people around me when I was coming through so I'm a little bit jealous of them having people to push them constantly. 'I'm looking forward to watching them and seeing them all grow.'
Powys County Times
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Your guide to taking up tennis in Powys this summer
Wimbledon is fast approaching and there's no better time to pick up a racket and start playing tennis. That's the message from Sport Powys which is urging adults across the county to move more often. And it's why it has designed Let's Go Powys; a website that makes it easier for people to find sports and activity opportunities across the county, offering plenty of inspiration for adults of all ages and abilities. And with tennis one of the most searched for activities on the website, here's a guide to getting started in Powys… Find a tennis club in Powys From Brecon to Berriew and Llandrindod to Llanidloes, you don't have to look far to find a tennis club in Powys. Joining a club is a great way to get some coaching and improve your skills, meet new people and play some matches, whether it's competitive or a bit of fun Most clubs will offer you a taster session for free and it's worth looking out for open days as we approach peak tennis season. Becoming a member of a club helps motivate you to keep playing. By playing with and against others, the sense of accountability helps you commit to turning up week after week. Check out Let's Go Powys for your nearest club and to find out session times. Find a tennis court in Powys If you would prefer to just book a court and have a knock around with friends, there are local authority owned courts. This can be a good way to build your confidence before joining a club. Find a local tennis court. Get the whole family involved Tennis is a great sport for all the family. Head to a local court and mix it up by playing singles and doubles. Keep it fun by rotating players and introducing some drills to develop footwork and target skills. Games like longest rally can help motivate children. Maybe you could even set aside one night a week as a family tennis night? Just remember to make sure everyone's involved and having fun. Tennis Wales has lots of tips and fun games to keep the whole family motivated. Try pickleball It's safe to say that the sport of pickleball is booming. Easy to play, the racket sport is suitable for all ages and abilities. You can pick up the skills quickly and play a match with just a little bit of practice. And while pickleball is making its mark across the globe, it has also landed in Powys. Oswestry & the Borders Pickleball has recently expanded their sessions to Welshpool. The club offers a taster session and they welcome people of all abilities. Bit shy or got questions? If you fancy getting to know new people, the club often holds tournaments with local – and not so local – teams. There are also pickleball clubs in Llanfair and Ystradgynlais. Traditional tennis clubs and local leisure centres also often offer pickleball. Berriew Tennis Club, for example, suggests popping along to a session to give pickleball a try while Maldwyn Leisure Centre offers sessions on Wednesday evenings. Search for pickleball to find our nearest club. Walking Tennis If you're not quite as nimble on your feet as you once were or a slower pace of tennis suits you better, it's worth asking your local club about walking tennis sessions. These days, lots of sports have introduced walking versions which means you don't have to miss out on playing tennis if you haven't got the speed of Rafael Nadal. Clubs like Montgomery and Newtown have offered free walking tennis sessions in the past which is a great way to try it out. Find your nearest court or club on Let's Go Powys Keep active this summer by giving tennis a go. Play at your own pace in a way that works for you, improving your cardio, strength training and agility. Tennis is also a great way to improve mental sharpness through quick decision-making and it can reduce stress by releasing endorphins and having fun.
