“This is where it starts – tennis can be for everyone’ – Jack Draper meets LTA Award winners from the Carolle & Iman Tennis Programme

Jack, one of the brightest prospects in British tennis, said: “It's important to give back. There are people out there who are doing an amazing job like Carolle and Iman. I hope they keep it up. I think they're really enjoying what they're doing too.’’  

“Tennis is such an amazing sport, not just for professional players like myself but for all different genders, people from different backgrounds. It’s so important to get everyone involved.’’

Iman said: “It’s amazing to see a professional tennis player in real life. I think it’s really helped encourage the women and show them they can get involved.’’

Carolle and Iman met on an LTA tennis training course and have since gone on an incredible journey together that has helped inspire other women in their home city of Birmingham to pick up a racket and play tennis, delivering free tennis to dozens of women and children from diverse backgrounds.

Carolle said: “What we are trying to do is really encourage women, and especially women from diverse ethnic communities to get involved with tennis. Within weeks we had 70 women signed up.’’

“We just want to prove that this is something that can be done,’’ Iman added.

Since they began in January 2022, the numbers have risen. Now they have over 300 women and children attending sessions - around 80% of those being from diverse communities.

Jack chatted to the group and even threw in some of his amazing tricks shots for fun. “It’s really, really important, especially for someone like me who's always travelling, to see a kind of different perspective with tennis.

“This is where it starts. It doesn't have to be so serious the whole time. Tennis can be for everyone,’’ Jack added.

As the group headed back to Birmingham after the trip Carolle added: “We brought the award back to our women because they had supported us and come to our sessions week after week. It was really an award for them.’’