Thirteen girls from Belvedere Junior School in Bexley enjoyed a truly memorable day at the National Tennis Centre in south-west London recently (27 June) as they received one-to-one tennis coaching from renowned coach Judy Murray.

The special “Come Play” tennis event was organised by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in collaboration with the Elana Baltacha Foundation and Morgan Stanley.

Pupils thoroughly enjoyed being coached by Judy Murray, whose personalised tips and encouragement made a real impact on the girls. Adding to the excitement, former British number one Heather Watson joined them on court for lively rallying sessions, sharing her experience and inspiring the next generation of players.

The aim of the event was to make tennis more accessible and to encourage girls of all ages to lead healthy and productive lives on and off the court.

Leaving with a free t-shirt, water bottle and tennis racket, the girls were inspired and buzzing with enthusiasm at the end of the day, as well as being eager to keep playing and dreaming bigger than ever before.

Many pupils described it as an “unforgettable experience” that showed them just how welcoming and exciting tennis can be.

Lou Lynch, Executive Headteacher at Belvedere Infant and Junior School, part of The Pioneer Academy, said:

“We are delighted that some of our pupils were able to enjoy this wonderful experience.

“Events like “Come Play” demonstrate the power of tennis not just to teach skills, but to spark lifelong passion and to open doors for young girls from all backgrounds.”