Meet Rob Ellis,Director of Tennis at Cambridge Tennis Academy

Power2Inspire: What inspired you to become involved with Power2Inspire?

Rob Ellis: I set up Cambridge Tennis Academy seven years ago with the aim of being a truly inclusive group, allowing anyone who wants to pick up a tennis racket, to do so. Tennis can often be seen as an elitist sport, and we wanted to debunk the myth and ensure the sport is accessible to everyone.

After years of running a successful ‘Park Tennis’ event for everyone in Cambridge on Saturday mornings, and a series of successful inclusive specialist coaching programmes we partnered with Power2Inspire to run the Festival of Inclusive Tennis.

What makes the Festival of Inclusive Tennis special?

The Festival of Inclusive Tennis has grown from strength to strength over the years, with a fantastic amount of players of all abilities in attendance. The event welcomes everyone – players of all backgrounds, abilities, disabilities and ages and that’s why we love it so much. It fills me with a huge sense of achievement to see players who wouldn’t typically play in traditional tennis tournaments, being included and having such fun. Giving everyone the opportunity to play tennis is invaluable.

We provide all the equipment needed on the day, including rackets and balls to ensure that everyone can just turn up and join in. Best of all, the event is entirely FREE.

What does the specialist coaching involve?

Our coaches provide bespoke specialist coaching to all players who would like it. Often we will group up players with similar abilities so that sessions can be played together inclusively. All players have access to a coach and can play with their coach for as long as they wish. Players can play with coaches for as long as they wish – often we have players who find themselves another partner to rally with!

These sessions are fantastic for anyone who would like to try tennis for the first time, regardless their age or any disabilities.

The coaching sessions are relaxed and the aim is for everyone to enjoy themselves and play tennis in a way that suits them.

How are sessions adapted for people with disabilities?

The sessions are adapted as necessary. They are on smaller courts, where we play games of ‘short tennis’ or touchtennis. We use smaller rackets and sponge balls which naturally make the game easier if needed.

In previous years we have had wheelchair users attend with their carers, who have helped them to hold the racket and be involved with the sport. Everyone is welcome, and it is incredible to see players having such fun with a sport they would usually believe isn’t accessible for them.

We hope to see another fantastic turn out at this year’s event at Cambridge University Sports Centre on Saturday 2nd July. Click the logo to visit the Academy and stay up-to-date with all of Rob’s weekly sessions and exciting events that the Cambridge Tennis Academy run.

Rob also runs Parktennis events on Saturdays at 10-11am at Jesus Green in Cambridge – which also offers fantastic inclusive tennis sessions for everyone to be involved with. Click the logo to visit Park Tennis for more information.