Para-standing tennis star celebrates winning year

Routledge saved two match points before winning the World Championship final on a tie-break

A para-standing tennis champion said she "never expected" to have such a successful year after discovering the sport for the first time 12 months ago.

Georgia Routledge, 20, from Norwich, was a runner-up in the European Championships in Barcelona and later went on to win the World Championships in Turin in June.

The sport is for tennis players with physical impairments who want to play without the use of a wheelchair.

Routledge was born with cerebral palsy and has hemiplegia on her right side.

A life-changing year

The 20 year-old from Norwich is a contender for a Variety Club Disability Award

Routledge first encountered the sport after her coach discovered a para-standing tennis festival in Roehampton, south west London, last November.

"We met all these other people who were exactly like me... it was the most amazing day," Routledge said.

Eager to play more, Routledge and her coach Donna Andrews found competitions across the world.

The 20-year-old has known her coach for 14 years and said she has been a "huge part of the journey".

Ms Andrews, who has previously worked with career grand slam and Paralympic champion Alfie Hewett, said: "Georgia did so well and has been rewarded for all the training she had put in pre-tournament."

"She is so grateful for all the help from everyone in Norfolk who have contributed to her success."

Para-standing in the slams

Routledge has been playing able-bodied players since she was six years old, but only discovered para-standing tennis last year

Para-standing tennis has, so far, only appeared in exhibition events at the grand slam competitions.

Routledge said she hoped that Wimbledon and other major tennis tournaments will give the para-standing players the same opportunities as able-bodied and wheelchair competitors in the future.

"I am only 20, so I'd like to think that it could happen and I could also play in it for a good length of time.

"Fingers crossed, I do think it is possible, it just might take a bit of time."

"I did get invited to play at Wimbledon, that's an absolute dream for any tennis player, but I was really gutted that I was away on holiday at the time!"