Louise’s return to the BOWTC comes 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, 13 July – Sunday, 17 July. This event is said to be very special to Louise as she first competed there in Nottingham in 1996.
Louise said: “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.”
The athlete will not just be commentating though, as she has 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, and supporting the ball crews during the tournament.
Louise added: “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.
https://swindonlink.com/sport-and-leisure/louise-hunt-bowtc-commentator/