In the month before Wimbledon this summer Carmarthen Tennis Club’s membership has been ratcheted up from 20 to 130. It was not just the Murray Mania factor at Wimbledon but a new resurgence of interest in the “Love” game that has been served up with four new courts at Carmarthen Leisure Centre.

Now the Club is keen to cement this renewed interest with an indoor tennis centre on the site to enable all year round tennis for its members at the Carmarthenshire County Council run facility. They are working on funding for a framed-fabric tennis court – a mini Wimbledon centre court with a roof – at the centre that will cement their all year round future.

County executive board member for leisure services Clive Scourfield said: “The resurgence of interest in tennis in Carmarthen proves that providing top class facilities is necessary to promote growth. The huge range of sports and activities catered for at Carmarthen Leisure Centre betrays those who say the youth of Carmarthen have nothing to do and nowhere to go. It is good to see these courts in use by all age groups at all times of the day.”

Board Director of Tennis Wales, Dr Carwyn Jones said Carmarthen once boasted two tennis clubs but the lack of facilities had caused membership to fluctuate. He said: “Now we have members from aged four to 60, really good coaches, improving facilities, support from Carmarthenshire Council and an opportunity to feed talent through into the national search for a future Welsh Wimbledon champion. All we need now is the support for an indoor centre and the Lawn Tennis Association are so impressed with all that is going in Carmarthen they are keen to help us.”

Carmarthenshire County Council have increased the number of courts at the centre from two to four regional quality hard courts as part of the £8.2million Carmarthen Leisure Centre build.