Bartram hoping to make impact in Wimbledon debut

Ben Bartram grew up playing at Easton Tennis Centre dreaming of Wimbledon and this year that dream is about to come true

A Norfolk teenager has called appearing at Wimbledon "surreal" ahead of his first appearance at the grand slam tennis championships.

Ben Bartram has been competing in warm-up events in Bournemouth and Roehampton and made the wheelchair doubles final in the former with partner Dahnon Ward.

Bartram, who has a rare genetic condition that affects his skeletal development and his muscles, started playing tennis aged 11.

“There are videos of me when I was about 12 saying I wanted to play at Wimbledon... now that dream is coming true I am so so excited," he said.

The teenager, from Norwich, played his first grand slam event last year when he received a wildcard for the Australian Open.

The Hewett effect

He uses fellow Norfolk wheelchair tennis star Alfie Hewett, who is from nearby Cantley, as inspiration.

Hewett has won multiple grand slam wheelchair tennis titles in both singles and doubles, and was nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award last year.

"He has been a massive role model to me," said Bartram.

"I first got into the sport through watching him play at the Paralympics in Rio [2016].”

The two Norfolk stars came head to head in the singles at Bournemouth last week with Hewett winning without dropping a game.

"Playing against him is another great moment in my career. I went from being a fan to competing against him," said Bartram.

"A massive thank you to Wimbledon and the LTA for believing me and supporting me and giving me this opportunity to play Wimbledon; I will 100% take it."

Bartram has been traveling around the world competing but has not played in front of a big home crowd before, and he said it was something he was relishing.

“I think [the home crowd] will benefit me massively. I like to get really pumped on court and show a lot of emotion and passion," he said.

He will be in the singles and doubles draw at the All England Club - and is due to begin his tournament next week with days and times yet to be scheduled.