LTA award winner Teresa Catlin calls for more senior players to return to tennis

Published: 05:00, 20 September 2020

Edward Oakenfull, left, the chief selector of GB seniors, presents Teresa Catlin with the LTA senior player of the year award in Cambridge. Picture: Judy Czylok (42232663)

World champion Teresa Catlin has repeated her call for more players to get involved with seniors tennis.

The 50-plus world singles and doubles title holder was speaking as she received her senior ladies player of the year award from the LTA at the Cambridge Club where she is the tennis manager.

Catlin was named as the senior player of the year at the LTA’s annual awards, held virtually earlier in the summer, following her victories at the World Seniors Championships in Portugal in 2019 and then collecting the British Indoor title at Tipton in January.

After being given the heavyweight glass trophy by Edward Oakenfull, the chief selector for GB Seniors Tennis, Catlin used the opportunity of an interview for the LTA to call for greater involvement in seniors tennis.

Following on from the comments she made when she won the British 50-plus indoor crown in January, she said: “Going back into seniors tennis, what I am aware of is that there are so many people who are able to play tennis (at this level) and don’t realise they are good enough to do that. I’m trying to break down those ideas that you don’t have to have been an ex-pro to compete. It’s as much of a social outing as a competitive one.

“We have a very good base of ladies here (at Cambridge) who compete on a regular basis in local leagues and friendly matches. I’m trying to show them they have plenty of ability and opportunity now with Seniors GB tennis putting on more and more events that it’s for them; it’s not for somebody else.

“I would say if you love tennis then play as many different people in different places as you can. There are tennis clubs in very lovely parts of the country and, definitely, the world. Everybody is welcome to play against different people and pit their wits against opposition they’ve never played before.

“Tennis is as much about making friends as hitting balls. Go out and enjoy playing tennis.”

The ITF recently announced new categories for over-30s as well as for over-90s, expanding seniors tennis at both ends of the age spectrum for 2021.

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