Taking tennis to local juniors – the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI)

The AELTC coaching team visits around 65 state primary schools in Merton and Wandsworth every year.

Since 2001, more than 190,000 local children have received a free session and up to 300 children attend free tennis coaching held over 45 weekends a year.

Children learn not only how to play tennis but the life-skills and values sport brings such as teamwork, discipline and fairness.

The WJTI aims to maximise the potential of its members as both tennis players and young people and show how participation in sport can develop life skills and offer exciting opportunities. 

Case Study - Jenna Fontanilla 

Jenna was just five when the AELTC coaching team visited her school, St Teresa’s in Merton, and invited her to join the WJTI.

Three years on, Jenna continues to take part in two hours of training a week and is fast-becoming a talented and skilful tennis player.

Jenna’s parents say the WJTI has also helped her to overcome shyness, become more independent and able to work better individually at school.

“The WJTI has had a clear impact on Jenna's life. It is so much more than a tennis master class," said Liza Fontanilla.

"The support, constructive feedback and guidance that Jenna receives from the coaches have greatly improved her confidence.

"You can clearly see this by comparing Jenna when she started school to the faster, stronger, more confident Jenna we see today.” 

Case Study - Jack Lane

Jack Lane was 11 years old when the WJTI visited Liberty Middle School in Mitcham.

An initial weekly coaching session at the All England Club quickly accelerated to four coaching sessions a week and Jack being picked for the WJTI squad.

Soon, Jack began helping to coach younger WJTI players and, together with support from charity Give It Your Max, Jack achieved his Level 3 coaching qualifications.

Today, the WJTI part-funds Jack to go into Mitcham schools for a six week period to offer support to teachers and give children the opportunity to play tennis.

“I didn’t know what life held for me before joining the WJTI but, once I started to play within the grounds of Wimbledon week in week out, it was so amazing that it convinced me to commit to tennis…

"I cannot thank the WJTI enough for what they have done for me.

"They have given me some unbelievable experiences which have changed the course of my life, and for which I will always be grateful.”

The Road to Wimbledon

Our well-established Road to Wimbledon National 14 and Under Challenge is the largest junior tournament in the UK. More than 8,500 girls and boys from over 750 clubs, parks and schools competed in the Road to Wimbledon in 2017 with 144 of them qualifying for the National Finals played at Wimbledon in August.

The National Finals also included 12 finalists from a series of international qualifying events run by the AELTC in India, China and Hong Kong. 

Click here to find out more about the Road to Wimbledon.

Magic Bus

The Wimbledon Foundation’s joint project with Magic Bus in India uses tennis to help teach children living in marginalised communities in Delhi why education and health are so important in creating a sustainable future out of poverty.

Magic Bus mentors are working with more than 3,000 children and parents from underprivileged backgrounds using a sports-based curriculum to deliver positive messages about the importance of school attendance, good hygiene and gender equality.

In 2017, the Foundation increased its commitment to Magic Bus for the next three years enabling them to continue running the tennis-for-development sessions as well as supporting a Livelihood Centre in Nangloi, Delhi. The Centre provides 18 to 25-year-olds with training and support to help them move into sustained employment, further education or access career-based training.