On Thursday 13th June children from Dunkirk Primary School attended the Rothesay Nottingham Open. At the event, children watched top WTA players compete on Centre Court, took part in a match coin toss and received an exclusive behind the scenes tour courtesy of the LTA Foundation. To the children’s delight and surprise, they were also able to sit in and listen to a live press conference with US Open winner Emma Raducanu!

Rackets Cubed has operated a programme with Dunkirk Primary School since September 2022. Each week, thirty year five and six children participate in our integrated after-school programme where facilities, coaching and food is provided – in partnership with Nottingham Tennis Centre. Thanks to the LTA Foundation, Rackets Cubed were able to give 10 tickets to Dunkirk Primary School to attend the Open. This gave children who have been attending the Rackets Cubed programme the opportunity to watch top players play and experience a tournament for themselves.

10 Children and staff from Dunkirk made the short, but familiar route, from the school to the tournament site and took their seats on Centre Court to watch Emma Raducanu defeat Ukrainian Daria Snigur 6-2 6-2. Once the match had ended, Stephanie and Josh walked onto Centre Court as mascots for British hopeful Fran Jones and her opponent Ashlyn Krueger. Stephanie then took part in the coin toss which saw Fran Jones serve first. Afterwards, she described her excitement “I felt so nervous being chosen to do the coin toss, but I loved it. It was amazing to be stood there in front of all those people”.

Thanks to the LTA Foundation the children from Dunkirk also received an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the tournament. Children were shown around the player facilities including the gym, practice courts, player lounge and met with LTA staff who organised and ran day-to-day operations. A student from Dunkirk commented “It was so exciting and great to be so close to world famous tennis stars”.

The highlight of the tour was the opportunity to watch a live player press conference and host a Q&A with a current WTA player. Much to the children’s excitement, they were able to watch Emma Raducanu’s post-match press conference! Children watched and listened attentively to both the press’ questions and Raducanu’s responses. At the end of the press conference Emma very kindly waited to talk to and have a photograph taken with the children from Dunkirk.

Following this, the children were able to hold a press conference of their own! Kim Birrell, a WTA competitor who had won her first round match at the Nottingham Open sat down with the children and answered their questions. Kim remarked at how good the questions from the children were and said that if she hadn’t been a tennis player she might have been a teacher! The Dunkirk students thoroughly enjoyed the Q&A and appreciated Kim’s time – “I loved how we got to interview a professional tennis player and we got to use the microphone as well”

All in all, the group had an amazing day and left the site feeling enthused – “it (the day) has made me want to really try hard with my tennis, it has inspired me’. School teacher Julie Wise also commented on how incredible and unique the opportunity was – “It was such a fabulous day…. a great opportunity for the children. The seats on centre court, the coin toss, the tour around the tennis centre and listening to all that is involved with looking after the players and being in the press conference, it was fascinating. Thank you so much for organising this”

We would like to say a huge thank you to Sophie & Tom at the LTA Foundation for their role in organising this incredible experience for the children on our programme and being on hand to support us during the day.

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