Lily Folland had the opportunity to play on the manicured lawns of Wimbledon in the wheelchair events last week – and enjoyed an unforgettable experience at SW19.
Folland, 17, who attends St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School and plays at Cardiff Lawn Tennis Club, featured in the national finals at the Play Your Way to Wimbledon event, powered by Vodafone – the largest individual mass participation tennis competition in the UK.
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.
Folland, who described Louise Hunt as her tennis idol, was thrilled to attend Wimbledon and revealed it was an experience they will never forget.
Folland said: “It means a lot to play at Wimbledon – just being here is quite surreal and actually seeing it in person is amazing.
“It obviously looks big on the telly, but you get here and it’s just like ‘woah,’ more than you expect.
“I came here just looking to play my best and enjoy the experience. I’ve enjoyed meeting new people, playing on the courts – I’d never played on grass before, which was quite interesting.
“It’s a lot harder to move on grass, that and the ball bounces less anyway, so it’s 10 times harder and it’s been a real learning curve.”
The competition looks to inspire the next generation of tennis talent; enabling players of all ages to follow in the footsteps of their heroes and compete for a chance to play on Wimbledon’s iconic courts.
Formerly known as the Road to Wimbledon, the competition is supported by Vodafone in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club, as a collective commitment to support grassroots tennis in the UK.
This year’s event will be the largest finals in the competition’s history, adding a junior wheelchair pathway, plus exhibitions of para standing and deaf tennis.
The 2023 competition saw record participation as the event opened up to more players, with the introduction of qualifying rounds for three disability categories split between Visual Impairment, Learning Disability and Wheelchair tennis, as well as an Adult Doubles pathway.
Former British No.1 and Vodafone Ambassador Tim Henman was in attendance to cheer on the players at SW19 and offer his experience and advice.
He said: “Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is an incredible opportunity for people from every walk of life to pick up a racket and get involved and it’s been great to see so many players taking part in this year’s competition.
“This is an opportunity that not many get, so there are lots of people walking around with big smiles on their faces!
“I would encourage the finalists to enjoy their matches, soak it all up, take that experience away with you and spread the word. Hopefully we can keep increasing participation numbers.”
Former British No.1nd Vodafone Ambassador Laura Robson led a coaching clinic alongside the All England Club’s Head Coach Dan Bloxham, allowing players who just missed out on the 14U national finals to experience grass court play.
Robson said: “I really enjoy hosting the coaching clinic at Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone. The kids work so hard and have a smile on their face the entire time, which is exactly what you want.
“Being at Wimbledon is a highlight of the year for many and it’s made even more special by having everything set up exactly as it was during The Championships earlier this summer.
“I played in this competition when it was ‘Road to Wimbledon’, so it’s really exciting to see how much it has expanded over the years to include more players, especially across wheelchair, learning disability and visual impairment categories. Hopefully we can create some amazing memories for the players out there and continue encouraging others to pick up a racket.”
Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK’s largest individual mass participation tennis competition, providing recreational players of all ages and abilities the opportunity to compete at Wimbledon. The All England Club and LTA are proud to partner with Vodafone to expand the competition in 2024.
