Former British wheelchair tennis player Louise Hunt will be returning to the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships this year as a commentator – 26 years after she first competed in the tournament at the age of five.
The 31-year-old will be commentating on the event between Wednesday July 13 and Sunday July 17 just a few short days after doing the same job at the iconic Wimbledon championship. This event though is very special because Louise first competed there in Nottingham in 1996.
“I was really humbled to be asked to be a part of the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships this year. Having played in this event nearly every year since the age of five, from the junior division to the main draw, it’s somewhere that really feels like a home away from home and holds many great memories for me,” Louise said.
The athlete won’t just be commentating though, she’s been asked to take several other roles including overseeing the work of the volunteers who help the event run smoothly, being part of the two-day schools’ festival which takes place and supporting the ball crews during the tournament.
“It’s humbling to be asked to be a part of multiple things across the event, from commentary, working with volunteers, to helping with the schools festival. My roles and responsibilities really encompass all I am passionate about which includes empowering young people with disabilities to embrace sport – in fact all young people to embrace sport.”
Louise, who lives in Wroughton near Swindon, has enjoyed a successful global playing career and is one of Wiltshire’s most successful athletes.
She represented Great Britain at the London and Rio Paralympics, and has won 13 senior singles and 41 senior doubles titles, with a career-high world ranking of 10. Her first senior title came in 2009. She made two Wimbledon appearances as a player, in 2015 in the doubles and the following year in both the singles and doubles event – the first year singles was held at the event.
After making the decision to retire from competitive tennis almost a year ago, Louise is now building a new career as a motivational speaker, commentator, tennis and disability ambassador. She is also an adviser to businesses and corporations around being inclusive.
For more information about Louise visit http://www.louisehunt.co.uk