NAOMIE Tarver, from Bishampton, will play on the hallowed courts at Wimbledon later this year after she won the Play Your Way to Wimbledon women’s singles qualification event in Loghborough.
Tarver, who trains at Pershore Tennis Centre, topped her round-robin group as she won both of her matches to meet Liverpool’s Natalia Bedkowksa in the final.
And Tarver did not drop a single set on her way to victory as she powered to a 6-2, 6-3 success in the final before also winning the doubles event alongside Buckinghamshire’s Debbie Reynolds.
Tarver said: “I’m absolutely delighted. This is an achievement that I have been training and working towards since it was announced in January, I still can’t believe I’m going.
“What a privilege to go and play on the same courts as the world’s greatest. A massive thing ticked off the bucket list.
“Since we heard that the Loughborough tournament was part of the new Play Your Way to Wimbledon wheelchair pathway this year this is something I’ve been training towards and I’m delighted that I now get the chance to play at Wimbledon at the National Finals.
“It’s a dream come true and I’m thrilled to get this opportunity, especially doing it in Loughborough, which is where I played my first tournament a couple of years ago.”
The 36-year-old will join runner-up Bedkowska for a once in a lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in the Wimbledon experience.
And the players will utilise courts and facilities usually reserved for players competing in The Championships when they take part in the National Finals in August.
Last year, Tarver amassed more points than any other women’s singles player across the LTA’s regional series of wheelchair tennis tournaments.
Alfie Hewett, a 23-time Grand Slam champion and four time Wimbledon doubles winner, was in attendance at the event.
The event was one of the first wheelchair tennis tournaments on the new disability pathway for Play Your Way to Wimbledon.
