Winners crowned at 2026 Learning Disability and Autism Tennis National Finals

This tournament is always a highlight of the season for Britain’s LD tennis community, forming a key part of the LTA's LD performance pathway.

The LD Tennis National Finals provides opportunities for all abilities, with players grouped into varying ball colour divisions: yellow ball, green ball, and orange ball.

Within these three categories, players are further grouped into divisions based on prior knowledge of the athletes and previous tournament results.

In the yellow ball singles, Essex’s Oliver Beadle came through some challenging matches to reach the final, where he beat Scotland West’s Aidan Moody 4-2, 3-5, 10-5 in a thrilling contest.

Oliver Beadle secured both the singles and doubles titles in the yellow ball competition. (Alex Dodd Photography)

The two players who contested the singles final then teamed up for the Division 1 doubles and they turned in impressive performances to win all three of their matches.

In the green ball singles competition, Nottinghamshire’s Alexander Hopkinson turned in a trio of impressive performances to win each of his matches.

He also performed well in the green ball doubles event with partner Grace Stockdale from Cheshire, but they were beaten by the Suffolk duo of Catherine Cook and Alice Swallow in the final match of that competition.

Freddie Bayliss from Lincolnshire has three solid performances as he won all of his matches in the orange ball singles, with Shannon Bennett, Emma Birley and Zoe Irving all performing well in a competitive group.

Bayliss also shone in the orange ball doubles event, as he teamed up with Bennett in a strong pairing that won both of their matches.

Rebecca Brook, Tournament Director, said: “The Learning Disability and Autism National Finals are a fantastic celebration of inclusive tennis, bringing together players from across the country to compete, connect and showcase their incredible talent.

“The standard of tennis throughout the Finals was outstanding, but what was equally inspiring was the passion, determination and sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the event.

“The event highlights not only the talent and competitive spirit of our players, but also the way tennis helps build confidence, develop friendships and provide opportunities for players to thrive both on and off the court.

“We are incredibly proud to provide these opportunities and to witness the positive impact tennis continues to have on so many lives.”

Players from across the country came together to take part in the event. (Alex Dodd Photography)

This has been a significant year for LD tennis in Great Britain, with the LTA staging a Learning Disability and Autism (LD&A) tournament at this year’s Lexus Nottingham Open in June.

The LD&A tournament at the Lexus Nottingham Open was sanctioned by Virtus, the international federation for athletes with intellectual impairments, and allowed players to gain valuable ranking points and vital experience on one of the biggest stages in British tennis.

The big crowds at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre had a chance to enjoy the new tournament as they watched Marie Bouzkova from Czechia win the WTA Tour 250 event and Australia’s Christopher O’Connell lift the ATP Challenger title.

This tournament was made possible by a significant increase in LTA investment in disability tennis competitions, with an uplift of nearly 25% of LTA funding in 2026.

The LTA runs performance programmes for Learning Disability, Deaf, and Visually Impaired Tennis, while financial support is also given to elite Para Standing Tennis by the LTA, ensuring more players get the chance to represent Great Britain on the international stage.