Para standing tennis star honoured to be part of Play Your Way to Wimbledon

Matthew Grover is paving the way for para standing tennis after taking to the manicured lawns of Wimbledon last week in what was an unforgettable experience at SW19.

Grover, 31, who lives in Horsham featured in the national finals at Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, which is the UK’s largest individual mass participation tennis competition and is delivered by Vodafone in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club.

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 last week.

Grover, who won the world championship doubles and singles title in 2024, was part of a para standing tennis exhibition match during the tournament and noted just how important it is to shine a light on the sport.

He said: "Wimbledon is such an historic venue and so to be able to be in Play Your Way To Wimbledon just helps us show people who don't necessarily think that tennis is for them that they can play on these courts.

"It's a fantastic experience to see all the age groups and disability formats. For us as para standings tennis players, to show our sport on the same courts that so many pros have been on is brilliant.

"It brings disability sport to life and brings so much for visibility.

"I never knew about para based sport until London 2012 and I've now become world and European champion in singles and doubles as well as playing at the US Open in a couple of weeks time."

This year’s tournament delivered over 10,000 playing opportunities with thousands of singles and doubles players taking part at 800 venues, leading to county and area finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on the All England Club’s Aorangi Courts from 3 – 9 August 2025.

The competition aims to broaden playing opportunities and to inspire people of all ages and abilities to play tennis and follow in the footsteps of their tennis heroes by competing for a chance to play on Wimbledon’s iconic courts.

In addition to 14 and under singles, 18 and under doubles and adult doubles draws, the categories also included wheelchair (adult and juniors), learning disability and visually impaired competitions. The national finals also saw the return of popular para-standing and deaf tennis exhibition matches held during the week.

World No.1 wheelchair doubles partners and Vodafone ambassadors Alfie Hewett OBE and Gordon Reid OBE were in attendance to cheer on the players at SW19 and offer their experience and advice.

“We would have loved to have had something like this when we were younger and playing’” said Hewett.

“Play your Way to Wimbledon is a massive event for someone to pick up a racket for the first time or start playing again if they haven’t for a while.

“It’s about being active at grassroots level, making friends and new tennis partners and that is the beauty of events like this.”

Reid added: “We want tennis to be available and accessible to everybody and get as many people as possible enjoying the sport.

“This event encapsulates that perfectly and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK’s largest individual mass participation tennis competition. It is delivered by Vodafone, in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club, forming part of Vodafone's ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots tennis in the UK and making the sport more accessible for players of all ages and abilities.