2014 British Tennis: A Year In Review
• 9 MINUTE READ
2014 was another exciting year in British Tennis and we have picked 20 of our top moments to share with you! What will 2015 bring?
1. JUNE - Rally For Bally
After the tragic passing of Elena Baltacha from liver cancer on May 4, aged 30, a series of exhibition matches took place in her memory on Sunday June 15.
Stars including Andy and Jamie Murray, Ross Hutchins, Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Heather Watson, Martina Hingis, Laura Robson and Victoria Azarenka all took part in memorable mixed doubles exhibition matches at the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club in London, the Aegon Classic in Birmingham and the Aegon International in Eastbourne.
So far, more than £200,000 has been raised for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and The Elena Baltacha Foundation, the charity attached to the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis which Bally set up to help children from all backgrounds play tennis.
Donations to Rally For Bally can still be made via www.justgiving.com/RallyForBally or you can text EBAL60 + your donation to 70070.
Watch some action from Rally For Bally!
2. SEPTEMBER - Jordanne Whiley completes calendar year Grand Slam
Jordanne Whiley sensationally became the first Briton to win all four Grand Slams in the same year when she clinched the women's wheelchair doubles at the US Open with Japan's Yui Kamiji.
Watch an interview with Jordanne after her US Open win and read a report from the tournament.
3. FEBRUARY/APRIL - Davis Cup fever against USA and Italy
Leon Smith’s men turned on the style to defeat USA 3-1 on clay in San Diego and move into the Davis Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1986. A thrilling tie with Italy in Naples ensued but an inspired Fabio Fognini steered the home side to a 3-2 win.
Watch captain Leon Smith talk about the win over USA and some highlights from the tie with Italy.
4. SEPTEMBER - Andy Lapthorne wins wheelchair quad US Open
Andy Lapthorne won his first Grand Slam singles title with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over David Wagner in the wheelchair quad final at the US Open in New York. He said on Twitter afterwards: “I think I just won the US Open? I am in disbelief.”
5. OCTOBER - Andy Murray qualifies for ATP World Tour Finals
A sensational run of 20 wins and just two defeats in 36 days saw Andy Murray qualify for the end of season ATP World Tour Finals at the 02 Arena in London. His form saw him pick-up titles at the Shenzhen Open, Vienna Open and Valencia Open.
Follow @andy_murray on Twitter.
6. MAY/JUNE/JULY - Great British Tennis Weekend
Great British Tennis Weekend 2014 took place across four weekends in May, June and July with 22,400 people enjoying free tennis across the nation at 1,917 events and 1,127 venues.
Look out for more information on Great British Tennis Weekend 2015 by following @BritishTennis on Twitter.
7. JUNE/JULY - Wimbledon Championships
A total of 491,084 people attended Wimbledon this year and witnessed Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova win their second singles titles at the tournament. Defending champion Andy Murray carried the British fight before falling to Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-final.
See photo albums from Day 12 and Day 13 at Wimbledon.
8. JUNE - Men's summer of grass court tennis
Grigor Dimitrov became the first man in 2014 to win titles on three different surfaces when he beat Feliciano Lopez in three sets at the Aegon Championship. Lopez got his hands on a trophy the following week by retaining the Aegon International with a win over Richard Gasquet.
Watch highlights from a high-quality final at the Aegon Championships and footage from the men's final at the Aegon International.
9. JUNE - Women's summer of grass court tennis
Ana Ivanovic kick-started her grass court season by landing her first WTA title on the surface by defeating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova at the Aegon Classic. Madison Keys then won her first ever WTA title at the Aegon International after beating Angelique Kerber in the final.
Watch highlights from the women's final at the Aegon International and footage from when Ana Ivanovic and Donna Vekic played cricket before the Aegon Classic.
10. MAY - Heather Watson fights back to regain top 50 place
Heather enjoyed a strong comeback year after recovering from glandular fever and sealed a place back in the top 50. She won the Sparta Prague Open in May and her efforts over the 12 months saw her listed as a candidate for the WTA comeback player of the year.
Follow @HeatherWatson92 on Twitter.
11. JUNE - Dom Inglot triumphant in Eastbourne
Dom Inglot and Treat Huey enjoyed their biggest win of 2014 by upsetting top seeds and defending champions Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 7-5, 5-7, (10-8) in the doubles final of the Aegon International.
Watch the moment the pair seal victory and our interview with Dom and Treat.
12. APRIL - Highland Spring Mini Tennis Month
In 2014, more than 5,000 children and 1,650 parents took part in National Mini Tennis Month which aimed to promote tennis around the nation as a family sport.
13. FEBRUARY - Fighting spirit at Fed Cup
Heather Watson won all four of her singles rubbers in Budapest as Team GB, led by Judy Murray, won two of their four matches to finish ninth in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I.
14. JUNE - Johanna Konta breaks into top 100
Current British No.2 Johanna Konta raced into the top 100 for the first time and competed in the main draw singles at both Wimbledon and the US Open.
15. NOVEMBER - Rankings boost for the boys
James Ward reached a career high singles ranking of 102 while Liam Broady and Kyle Edmund both broke into the top 200 for the first time after reaching finals on the Challenger Tour.
Enjoy our catch-up with Kyle Edmund where he talks about being a top 200 player.
Follow @kyle8edmund, @Liambroady and @JamesWardtennis on Twitter.
16. NOVEMBER - NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters a hit in London
The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, the sport's most prestigious event outside of the four Grand Slam events, was held in Britain for the first time at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
Watch exciting footage of the men's final.
17. JANUARY/JULY/SEPTEMBER - Juniors make impression in Grand Slams
Katie Boulter (pictured below) and partner Ivana Jorovic reached the semi-finals in the junior doubles at the Australian Open while Maia Lumsden and partner Fanni Stollar achieved the same feat at the US Open. For the boys, Joshua Sapwell made the quarter-finals in the junior singles at Wimbledon.
18. FEBRUARY - Exciting plans for Aegon Nottingham Open announced
Two highly prestigious pre-Wimbledon grass court tournaments will return to Nottingham with a new Women’s WTA International tournament joining a Men’s ATP 250 tournament.
Find out more information on the Aegon Nottingham Open.
19. DECEMBER - Landmark funding agreement with Tennis Scotland
A four-year funding agreement with Tennis Scotland was announced which will see £3.3m invested into developing all areas of Scottish tennis.
20. JULY/NOVEMBER - Mixture of winners at Aegon County Cup
In another successful year, Buckinghamshire Ladies and Kent Men were crowned champions of the summer competition while Surrey Ladies and Lancashire Men won the winter tournament.
