World Deaf Tennis Championships: GB squad announced

Taking place in Antalya, 12-19 October, the Championships will see players from 18 countries battling it out across singles, doubles and mixed doubles events in a bid to win medals on behalf of their nation.

Sanctioned by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), the first Deaf Tennis Championships took place in Nottingham in 2015. Designed to enhance the existing calendar of major international deaf tennis events, which includes regional championships in Europe, AsiaPacific and the PanAmericas, as well as the Dresse and Maere Cups, the event serves to increase the number of elite competitive opportunities for deaf players across the world.

Who's playing?

Accompanied by Head Coach Catherine Fletcher and supporting coach Andrew Graham, the following players have been selected to represent Great Britain at this year’s event:

• Lewis Fletcher – 34, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire
• Esah Hayat – 17, Finchley, London
• Phoebe Suthers – 16, Elland, Yorkshire
• Valerie Copenhagen - 36, Ruislip, Middlesex

Provisional schedule

Saturday 12 October: Men’s and Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles First Round

Sunday 13 October: Men’s and Women’s Doubles First Round

Tuesday 15 October: Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Singles and Doubles First Round

Thursday 17 October: Men’s and Women’s Singles Semi-Finals, Mixed Doubles Semi-Finals and Junior Singles Semi-Finals

Friday 18 October: Gold and bronze medal matches for Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Junior Girls’ Singles, Junior Boys’ Doubles and Junior Mixed Doubles

Saturday 19 October: Gold and bronze medal matches for Men’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, Junior Girls’ Doubles, Junior Boys’ Doubles

Last time out

At the first World Deaf Tennis Championships in Nottingham in 2015 Great Britain won two medals, with Esah Hayat winning the first boys’ singles world title and Phoebe Suthers claiming the bronze medal in the girls’ singles.

Who said what?

Speaking about his selection, 17-year-old Hayat – who won gold in the boys’ singles at the last World Deaf Championships in 2015, commented: “I’m a lot more confident that I can play at the level of all the other top senior players this year. The last World Championships were really good, but this time I will have the experience from Nottingham to draw on and I will be even more prepared. Lewis and I are a much better doubles pair than I could have ever expected and I believe we can beat anyone. We will be going for gold in Turkey. We played really well last year at the Dresse Cup and we’ve been able to practise even more this year, too.”

Echoing Hayat’s enthusiasm, 16-year-old Suthers, who won bronze at the 2015 Championships added: “I’m very much looking forward to this year’s World Championships and I think it will be another amazing experience. Hopefully I will be able to bring a medal home for GB again, but it will be tough. It’s been a roller-coaster journey since the 2015 Worlds. There have been many ups and downs, but I’ve managed to bring myself up and fight the downs to get in the secure position that I’m in now. I’ve learnt that tennis is about dedication and never giving up.”

Fletcher – who also competed at the World Championships in 2015 and partnered Hayat to win the silver medal for Great Britain at the 2018 Dresse Cup, commented: “I am very pleased with my recent performances at the National Championships alongside my partners Esah and Phoebe. I really believe if we play the way we are, we have high hopes of medals in Turkey. Esah and I set the benchmark last year at the Dresse Cup, winning the silver medal, so I see no reason why we can’t continue that success and go one better at the Worlds.”

Copenhagen – who contested her first major international event at the World Championships in 2015 added: “I can't believe it has been four years since my first ever international tournament. I've worked so hard to get to where I am, both on and off court. It is such a special opportunity to represent GB again and I'm really looking forward to it. I want to do the best I can with the draw I have and leave everything on court. I can't wait to play with Phoebe in the doubles - our practices have gone really well and she is so lovely to play alongside."

Commenting ahead of the team’s departure, the LTA’s National Deaf Tennis Coach Catherine Fletcher, who has also represented Great Britain in numerous major international events said: “After the success we enjoyed in Nottingham four years ago I’m really excited to head out to Turkey with our four-strong team for the second ever World Deaf Tennis Championships. The team have all gained valuable international experience over the past few years and we’ve had significant medal success at recent championships. We have a great blend of youth and experience and I hope we will return home successful.”

Fun facts

• Great Britain’s National Deaf Tennis Coach Catherine Fletcher and team member Lewis Fletcher are husband and wife and they both met through playing deaf tennis. Catherine has been National Deaf Tennis Coach since 2013, while Lewis continues to play internationally.
• Antalya, Turkey also staged the 2018 World Deaf Tennis Team Championships, where the Great Britain men’s team represented by Lewis Fletcher and Esah Hayat, claimed the silver medal in the Dresse Cup.
• Phoebe Suthers won her first international senior deaf tennis titles in singles and doubles at the 2018 Slovenia Open.

Qualification

Under the rules of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), to be eligible for deaf tennis competition players must have a hearing loss of 55 decibels or more in the best ear.

Players who meet this criteria are eligible to play competition. The ICSD publishes a Deaf Tennis World Ranking List, which is updated after each major championships.