Tennis courts across South Yorkshire expecting surge in demand as Wimbledon starts
The historic tournament gets underway today
Last updated 29th Jun 2026
It's hoped more people in South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire will 'give tennis a go' over the next few weeks.
From today - Wimbledon is getting underway - which usually leads to more of us picking up a racket & stepping onto the court.
Matt Wesley is a tennis coach from Barnsley - He says it's a busy time of year for him:
"Wimbledon being on gives people a leg up to go to a court near them and play.
"You can be complete beginners, and you can still get massive enjoyment out of just going and hitting a tennis ball.
"There's always been a bit of an influx of people getting involved at this time, and long may that continue; that is what we want to see.
"You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain really from just picking up a racket and having a swing.
"You can make friends; you can be active and learn new skills.
"If you do end up getting the bug for it, tennis is a sport that you can play for life.
"You don't need many players; you can hit a ball against a wall."
Wimbledon - which is the world's oldest and most prestigious grand slam tournament - is set to finish next month on the 12th of July.