New LTA 2021 event schedule provides more playing opportunities for juniors and adults despite Covid challenge
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The LTA has announced a new calendar of domestic level tennis events for spring and summer 2021 to give crucial playing opportunities to British national level adult and junior players whose schedules have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 LTA Junior National Tennis Championships, which begins at the end of May, will feature new incentives for the winners and runners up for the first time. As well as joining the prestigious roll of honour of past Junior National champions, on offer for the finalists will be wildcard opportunities into the Qualifying draw for The Championships or Junior Championships Main and Qualifying draws.
These new wildcard opportunities have been put in place by the LTA and The All England Lawn Tennis Club and are designed to enhance the continued development of Great Britain’s top junior players.
This new package of competitions provides more opportunities for players to get back on court, and continues our work to support their development as we emerge out of the pandemic.
In addition, seven British Tour tournaments have been confirmed in May and June, giving national level players the chance to compete, while the LTA Youth National Series in April will see the country’s best juniors back on court. The events, which all have draws for both female and male players, complement the LTA’s series of international major events for professional players, and the extensive range of domestic grassroots competitions the governing body supports.
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on British players of all ages across the country, so we are pleased to announce this new package of competitions which provides more opportunities for them to get back on court, and continues our work to support their development as we emerge out of the pandemic. The resumption of the British Tour in May is a chance for national level players to get back competing, while our Youth National Series gives young players across all stages of the LTA Player Pathway the opportunity to compete in multiple level-based matches.
“Finally, we are very pleased to be able to offer The Championships and Junior Championships wildcard incentives we agreed with the All England Club, which will be just reward for winners of the LTA Junior Nationals Tennis Championships, and will provide invaluable experience for those young players as they continue to develop their games.”
All of the events announced will take place under LTA COVID-19 guidelines and in line with the Government’s roadmap for the easing of coronavirus restrictions in England.
LTA Junior National Tennis Championships
The Junior National title has traditionally been a stepping stone on the journey to becoming a professional for the country’s leading players, with previous winners including Andy Murray, Heather Watson, Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans, Anne Keothavong and Tim Henman.
This year’s event will take place on grass at the Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club. Players this year will have the added incentive of competing to earn wildcards for the Qualifying and Junior events at this year’s Championships.
In the 18 & Under (18U) age group, the Girls and Boys Junior National Singles winners will each earn a wild card for the Qualifying competition at The Championships, with both the winners and runners-up also getting a wild card for the Junior Championships. In the 16 & Under (16U) age group, the winners will be given a wild card for the Junior Championships, with the runners-up earning a wild card for Qualifying into the Junior Championships.
| Date | Event |
| 30-31 May | 16U Qualifying |
| 1-4 June | 16U Main Draw |
| 5-6 June | 18U Qualifying |
| 8-11 June | 18U Main Draw |
LTA Youth National Series
Tournaments will be played across four venues (Repton, Aldershot, Nottingham, Corby), and will see around 500 juniors compete across six age groups. The tournaments feature players from across various stages of the LTA Player Pathway, including those training at Local and Regional Player Development Centres and the National Academies, as well as players supported by the LTA’s National Age Group and the Men’s and Women’s Programmes.
All 10U, 11U, 12U and 14U tournaments will be played in a Round Robin format to give players a high volume of matches, with finals will be played at Corby Tennis Centre. The 16U & 18U combined events will be played at Nottingham and Aldershot Tennis Centres.
| Age Group | Date |
| 10U | (Final - 24 April) |
| 11U | (Final - 1 May) |
| 12U | (Final - 3 May) |
| 14U | (Final – 25 April) |
| 18U & 16U Combined | 11 April (North – Nottingham Tennis Centre) |
| 18U & 16U Combined | 25 April (South – Aldershot Tennis Centre) |
The LTA Youth National Series forms part of LTA Youth, the LTA’s new and innovative junior programme developed to be fun, safe, inclusive and competitive. It has been developed to get more children to play and stay in tennis, whatever their ability and whatever their background.
With a fresh, modern approach, LTA Youth builds on the success of programmes like Tennis for Kids and Team Challenge to create a clear, compelling and engaging route from starter play through to competitions. It connects all tennis activity for juniors so the offer will look and feel the same, whether a child is playing in a school, park or club.
LTA British Tour
| Date | Venue |
| 5-7 May | Nottingham Tennis Centre (Outdoor Hard) |
| 12-15 May | Woking Lawn Tennis Club (Synthetic Clay) |
| 20-22 May | The Connaught Club (Outdoor Hard) |
| 24-29 May | Felixstowe Lawn Tennis Club (Grass) |
| 31 May – 5 June | North Oxford Lawn Tennis Club (Grass) |
| 14-19 June | The West Worthing Club (Grass) |
| 21-26 June | Frinton-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Club (Grass) |
*All the above will operate as ‘non-elite’ events
