Following on from the success of the behind-closed-doors events during lockdown, the LTA is staging the season-ending LTA British Tour Masters on Friday 18 to Saturday 19 December at the at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton
During the summer, almost 300 matches for men and women were staged by the LTA across 9 new ‘Return to Elite’ British Tour events at the NTC to meet the competitive and financial needs of a wider pool of players.
The Masters will showcase the top 6 men and the top 6 women in points earned across all British Tour events staged this year, 24 in all, with 2 wild cards in each gender division.
Currently the leaderboard’s top two points earners are Arthur Fery and Grace Piper.
Each Masters champion will be competing for £3,000 first prize across the two-day event.
River Media, who this year ran the inaugural UK Pro Series, will stage nine additional combined domestic events for men and women in 2021.
The first 8 will act as qualifying tournaments in 8 different venues, starting in February.
These events run across the whole year, complementary to the LTA’s domestic calendar, culminating in a ‘Classic’ week in early November, featuring the best male and female performers across the season.
The LTA has worked hard to provide our players with additional competition and earning opportunities since elite tennis tournaments could resume in June. In fact over 110 players took part in our British Tour events at the NTC this summer, with slightly more women doing so. We continue to develop our plans for 2021 and are committed to hosting international ITF World Tennis Tour events as soon as we are able and it is safe to do so. Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive
Battle of the Brits
A second edition of the ‘Battle of the Brits’ will be held next week, from 20-23 December at the NTC, with former World No 1 Andy Murray confirmed to compete.
It is the third event staged this year by Murray’s brother, Jamie. and the LTA, and will feature 16 male and female players in a 30-match league format.
The matches will be on the same surface used at the Australian Open, which begins on 8 February in Melbourne.
In addition to Andy Murray, Dan Evans, Heather Watson, Emma Raducanu, Cameron Norrie, Harriet Dart, Jay Clarke, Jodie Burrage and James Ward have also agreed to take part.
“All the players were keen to get the chance to test themselves before the season begins,” said Jamie Murray.
“It’s been such an unusual year, with so many disruptions that any competitive tennis people can get is welcome. Even in pre-season nobody likes to lose to their friends, so we’re expecting some tight matches.”
In August’s last event, Andy Murray partnered Naomi Broady to victory in the doubles, before Joe Salisbury teamed up with Dart to defeat Jamie Murray & Watson and secure a 63-56 overall win for the British Bulldogs against the Union Jacks.
Anne Keothavong and Leon Smith, captains of British bulldogs pose with the trophy at the St. James's Place Battle of the Brits Team Tennis at the NTC in August
Fed Cup Qualifier
For fans of international women’s team tennis, the dates and venue of the forthcoming Billie Jean King Cup World Group qualifier tie against Mexico will be announced after confirmation of when the 2021 Australian Open is taking place.
“The LTA has worked hard to provide our players with additional competition and earning opportunities since elite tennis tournaments could resume in June,” Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said. “In fact over 110 players took part in our British Tour events at the NTC this summer, with slightly more women doing so.
“The pandemic also gave us the opportunity to explore new innovative tournament formats for the first time, working collaboratively with new partners to help fund and facilitate these.
“We continue to develop our plans for 2021 and are committed to hosting international ITF World Tennis Tour events as soon as we are able and it is safe to do so.
“In the meantime, we are excited to announce the next wave of events at the NTC in December, providing an outstanding competitive environment for our Wheelchair and British Tour players ahead of their preparation for the new season.”
For more information and to watch live action from the Battle of the Brits Premier League Tennis, be sure to follow the LTA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Team Union Jack pose for a photo during at the St. James's Place Battle of the Brits Team Tennis at the NTC in August
Further Reading
Paris | Day One sees Evans beaten while Tsitsipas just avoids a similar fate
On a busy opening day of the French Open, Britain’s No.2 suffered an embarrassing loss as he became one of the first seeds to fall at the French Open as he continues the poor run of results he is gathering this season.
London | Annabel Croft’s husband Mel Coleman dies suddenly
Annabel Croft, who reached the 3rd round at Wimbledon in 1984 before retiring from the women’s tour at just 21-years-old, is dealing with the sudden heartbreak of losing her husband of 30 years, Mel Coleman, following his death on Wednesday, just 8 weeks after being...
London | WTA Roundup – Svitolina bags first title back in Strasbourg as Bronzetti lifts the trophy in Rabat
Strasbourg | WTA 250 Internationaux de Strasbourg - Former World No 3 Elina Svitolina bagged her first WTA title since becoming a mother in October, when the Ukrainian beat Russian Anna Blinkova, 6-2 6-3, in the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg on Saturday.
Lyon | Fils claims the title with a powerful display
Arthur Fils is the latest teenager to break into the top 100 on the ATP Tour and he did it with an impressive display of tennis which he produced to beat Francisco Cerundolo in the final of the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon event held at the Parc de la Tete d’Or...
Paris | Women’s Preview – Swiatek firm favourite but top spot is on the line
The French Open draw is complete for the 2023 edition, now that the qualifiers and lucky losers join the direct entries in the 128-woman field led by Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
