The Road to Wimbledon supported by Slazenger 14U Challenge is a unique competition providing an opportunity for venues to engage and inspire their 14U pupils/players. By entering the tournament and staging an event venues can give their players the chance to qualify to compete on the grass courts at Wimbledon.
The first stage of the competition takes place in a club/park/school and organisers can choose a format relevant to their venue to deliver a fun, sociable competition for players rated 7.1-10.2 or un-rated.
The winners of these events will then progress to their County Finals. County Final winners are then invited to compete in the National Finals at Wimbledon in August.
Eligibility & Events
The competition is open to LTA registered venues, as well as Schools in England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. There are separate events for girls and boys. Players must be 14 & under (born 1 Sept 2004 – 31 Aug 2008) and must be rated 10.2 - 7.1 or have no rating as of April 16, 2019. In addition, School venue players must be in Year 7, 8 or 9.
Players may only enter one Road to Wimbledon event in 2019 (a player can only compete in one ‘venue’ event and cannot play in both the venue stage and the International pathway). Players must also have played at National/International Finals no more than twice.
Format – Venue Stage
This is a competition to inspire and engage 14&U players. Organisers can choose a format relevant to their venue, however, we recommend delivering the event over half, one or two days using an abbreviated format such as fast4 or Timed Tennis. The key is to create a fun, sociable competition for players.
Further information on suggested formats is available in the Organiser Guide which will be posted in March to all organisers that have entered to stage an event.
Venue events must take place between 16 April and 9 June 2019. (Note, an earlier deadline date will apply to Scottish venues).
Venues that stage their event early and return their winner form by 19 May will be entered into a prize draw to win Wimbledon merchandise.
Venue stage events will be graded 7.
County Finals
The girl and/or boy winner(s) of your venue event will be invited to the County Finals on July 13 - 14 (Note, County Finals in Scotland will take place on 22 - 23 June).
(There is flexibility for counties to change this date and where this happens players will be communicated to in good time).
County Finals will be graded 4.
Runners up of the County Finals will be invited to attend a coaching clinic on Saturday 17 August at Wimbledon with the Head Coach of the All England Club, Dan Bloxham, and a current of former international player as a guest.
View the 2019 County Finals dates.
National Finals
The girl and boy winner of each County Final will be invited to play at Wimbledon from August 11 - 17 in the National Finals. (An additional four lucky losers from the County Finals will also be invited to the National Finals).
The National Finals will be graded 3.
All finals competitors will receive a Road to Wimbledon souvenir, an invitation to the Players Party, Wimbledon Museum voucher, organised Tours of the Grounds (includes family and friends) and daily accommodation/meal allowance.
Entry Fee
Clubs and parks are required to pay an entry fee to stage an event. The entry fee is £15 for the girls or boys event, or £25 total if entering both the girls and boys events. Payments to be made online at the time of entry.
There is no entry fee for schools to stage an event, however you must still enter online to ensure you receive your organiser pack.
Entries open on 1 December 2018 and will close on 28 February 2019.
Benefits
Benefits for Organisers
- Receive a free organiser pack to help you stage your event
- Opportunity to be entered into a prize draw for Wimbledon merchandise if you stage your event and submit your results early (by 19 May)
- The winner (and possibly the runner-up) of your event to represent your venue at the County Finals
- The organiser (and guest) invited to Wimbledon to watch the National Finals in August.
Benefits for Players
- Compete in a fun, social competition at your venue specifically for 14U players
- Be part of the biggest tennis tournament in the UK
- All players receive a Wimbledon certificate and prize for competing in their venue event
- Opportunity to qualify for your County Finals and then progress to play in the National Finals on the grass courts at Wimbledon
- Fantastic prizes on offer at the National Finals.