Evans, Hewett, Konta, Watson join over 80 grassroots venues, volunteers and coaches as LTA Tennis Awards 2021 finalists announced

Evans and Hewett join Andy Lapthorne, Gordon Reid and Joe Salisbury on the five-player shortlist for Men’s Player of the Year while Konta and Watson are up against Harriet Dart, Francesca Jones and Jordanne Whiley for glory in the Women’s Player of the Year category.

As well as celebrating the achievements of those players on the international stage, the LTA Tennis Awards also recognise individuals involved in tennis at grassroots, county and regional level with awards such as the Cathie Sabin Volunteer of the Year, Development Coach of the Year and Official of the Year.

The awards, which are now in their sixth year, also acknowledge the impressive achievements of schools, clubs and LTA-approved tournaments through School of the Year, Club of the Year and Competition of the Year awards.

A record-breaking 2,600 entries were received for this year’s awards and were first judged at county level which resulted in 380 winners. These county winners were then put forward for regional awards with those that were successful at that stage progressing to the national finals together with winners from Tennis Wales and Tennis Scotland. Alongside advancing to the national finals, all of the regional winners will be presented with a trophy to mark their achievements over the coming weeks.

The 2021 LTA Tennis Awards ceremony, which will crown the national winners, will be broadcast on the LTA’s YouTube channel on Thursday 24 June at 8pm. For the third successive year the evening will be hosted by Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, with a selection of players, celebrities and special guests presenting the awards.

LTA Volunteer Manager, Alex Beaumont, said: “The LTA Tennis Awards are our way of thanking and celebrating those who provide such a valuable contribution to tennis from grassroots through to elite level. As well as being high in number, the entries were also of an extremely high calibre and our judging panels for all categories were incredibly impressed. We are delighted that the tennis community continues to nominate such inspiring individuals, particularly after such a challenging past year, and we are really looking forward to announcing the 2021 winners and celebrating their outstanding achievements at the national ceremony.”

The full list of LTA Tennis Awards 2021 national finalists is:

Player of the Year – Male

Dan Evans
Alfie Hewett
Andy Lapthorne
Gordon Reid
Joe Salisbury

Player of the Year – Female

Harriet Dart
Francesca Jones
Johanna Konta
Heather Watson
Jordanne Whiley

Junior Player of the Year

Ben Bartram
Matilda Mutavdzic
Arthur Fery

Club of the Year

Flitwick and Ampthill LTC, Central & East
The Sundridge Park Club, London & South East
Stamford Tennis Club, Midlands
Helsby LTC, North
Giffnock Tennis, Squash & Hockey Club, Scotland
Riverside Tennis Club, South & South West
Allt-Yr-Yn LTC, Wales

Development Coach of the Year

Mekaya Gittens, Central & East
Mark Bullock, London & South East
Alex Guzder, Midlands
Paul Johnson, North
Steve Birrell, Scotland
Ian Vidgen, South & South West
Kari Davies, Wales

Performance Coach of the Year

Helen Parish, Central & East
Craig Veal, London & south East
Claire Williamson, Midlands
Mark Hilton, North
Mark Openshaw, Scotland
Ryan Bougourd, South & South West
Francesca Lewis, Wales

Communities & Parks Award

Premier Tennis, Central & East
Will to Win, London & South East
Wrekin and Telford Tennis Community, Midlands
Leeds Community Tennis Programme, North
Bristol Parks Tennis, South & South West
Neath Tennis, Wales

Competition of the Year

Bucks Junior County Closed, Central & East
Jack Petchey 21st Birthday Celebration Series (Old Wilsonians’ LTC), London & South East
12 Counties, Midlands
Shotley & Benfieldside Tennis Club, North
The Western LTC Club Championships, Scotland
East Glos Club Championships, South & South West
The E Y Wilkey Welsh Open, Wales

Official of the Year

Alison Jackson, Central & East
Jacob Miles, London & South East
Kelly Thomson, Midlands
Michael Atherfold, North
Colin Haldenby, Wales
Simon Corbishley, South & South West
Olwyn Roy, Scotland

Disability Award

No Barriers at Riverside Tennis Club, Central & East
MDL Coaching, London & South East
Grantham Tennis Club, Midlands
Brentwood Tennis Club, North
Chrysalis Tennis, Scotland
Ben Hardwick, South & South West

University of the Year

Oxford University LTC, Central & East
University of Sussex Students' Tennis Club, London & South East
University of Nottingham, Midlands
York St. John University, North
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Bristol Uni Tennis, South & South West

School of the Year

Christine Dransfield and St Paul's Way Trust School, Central & East
Deal Parochial C of E Primary School, London & South East
Ellesmere College, Midlands
Dame Dorothy Primary School, North
St Mary's Calne Tennis Academy, South & South West

Volunteer of the Year

Paul Draper, Central & East
Judi Smowton, London & South East
Nigel Stonier, Midlands
Paul Asensio, North
Amanda Barclay, Scotland
Sarah Strawbridge, South & South West
Melanie Dawes, Wales

Young Person of the Year

Georgia Routledge, Central & East
Kati Rust, London & South East
Joe Harris, Midlands
Reuben Newman-Billington, North
Katie McKay, Scotland
Beth Groves, South & South West
Sebastian Griffiths, Wales

Lifetime Achievement Award

Les Cambridge, Central & East
Sue Mappin, London & South East
Paul Hammond, Midlands
Pat Sharp, North
Jan Collins, Scotland
Heather Forrest, South & South West
Ann Brown, Wales

LTA President’s Award

Peter Coniglio & Helen Abbott: Walking Tennis, South & South West
John Ramsbottom: Yorkshire LTA, North
14U County Cup Boys Team: Warwickshire County, Midlands
Michelle Collins: Tennis Sussex, London & South East
Paul Jameson: West Surrey Tennis Club, London & South East
Stuart Calow: Midlands Tennis and Grantham Tennis Club, Midlands
Peter Millar: Wallasey Manor Tennis Club, North
Mackintosh TC Coaching Team: Mackintosh Tennis Club, Wales
Stuart Silvester: Norfolk LTA, Central & East
Graham Baum: Redmarley Tennis Club, South & South West