The Great Britain Fed Cup team welcomed over 100 schoolchildren to the University of Bath’s tennis courts, giving them the opportunity to take part in a Tennis for Kids morning with the stars, including Johanna Konta, before watching the team’s practice session ahead of the Europe/Africa Group One round-robin competition.

The morning comes as part of a wider plan by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to engage over 1,000 children from schools across the South West, who will be taking to the court in planned tennis activities onsite during the week of the event.

Celebrating the return of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas to Great Britain after a 26-year hiatus, schoolchildren from Batheaston Church of England Primary School and St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School were invited to meet the Great Britain team and given exclusive access to watch the team practice. A lucky few also had a go at some activities from the LTA’s Tennis for Kids programme, which is its flagship kids’ initiative for children aged four to eleven-years-old.

Since Tennis for Kids launched in 2016, following Great Britain’s historic Davis Cup win in 2015, the LTA’s biggest grassroots programme has inspired over 62,000 children to pick up a racket for the first time, with over 26,000 children getting involved in 2018 alone.

The children were joined on court by the GB Fed Cup team; British No.1, Johanna Konta, Fed Cup stalwart, Heather Watson, and up-and-coming names on the circuit, Katie Boulter, Bristol-born Katie Swan and Harriet Dart – who is set to make her Fed Cup debut later this week.

?Neroli, from St Andrew’s, said: “The best part of today was watching the practice, and it was really exciting to meet the players. I really like tennis and after today I’d like to play more tennis!”

The team got to experience the LTA’s Tennis for Kids programme, which is aimed at children who have never played tennis before and runs all year round. It focuses on fun, getting kids active and teaching them basic tennis skills. Delivered by trained and accredited LTA coaches, Tennis for Kids also gives parents the chance to join in, encouraging families to get ?on court together. And with Fed Cup fever hitting the South West, more Tennis for Kids courses are being specifically put on across the region by the LTA, so that those inspired by the tournament can have the chance at hitting the court themselves.

Johanna Konta, British No.1, said: “I’ve had a lot of fun joining in with the kids today and opportunities like these make a home tie really special; it gives us the chance to meet some of our younger fans, and hopefully inspire them to play tennis throughout their lives. We have a big week ahead of us, but the support of the crowd will really spur us on and today was a big reminder of those we have backing us.”

Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive of the LTA, said: “Opening up tennis, making the sport more welcoming and enjoyable for everyone, is a key focus for the LTA. With Tennis for Kids, we have a very successful and rewarding programme to engage new children in our sport. Giving young children a positive first experience of tennis is so important and days like today, where children from across the South West get to see tennis live and meet the very best in Britain, will hopefully engage them in tennis for life.”

To find your nearest Tennis for Kids venue and to sign up, visit: www.tennisforkids.co.uk

The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas sees female teams from almost 100 countries compete for eight spots in the elite World Group for the chance to lift the Fed Cup trophy. Great Britain will be one of eight nations competing in February, with each team contesting for a place in April’s World Group II Play-Offs.

For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit: www.lta.org.uk/fedcuptickets