Yorkshire tennis ace Paul Jubb cannot wait to play on home turf at next week’s Ilkley Trophy.
For the first time since 2019, Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club will host the competition after Covid disrupted the tennis schedule and led to events being cancelled or moved.
Jubb will be among the British players hoping for glory at the North of England’s biggest professional tennis event, where main draw play gets underway on Monday 13th June.
“The last time I played there was in 2019 and I had a good experience then. A lot has changed since then but I’m happy to be playing back up north,” said proud Northerner Jubb, who is from Hull and spent many happy times in Ilkley as a budding player. “It’s a nice venue and atmosphere. Growing up I used to play there in mini-regional junior events and I looked forward to going there.”
Jubb will be joined in the ATP Challenger men’s pre-Wimbledon grass-court event by international tennis stars such as American two-time Wimbledon men’s doubles champion Jack Sock and swashbuckling Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. On the women’s side, Great Britain’s Katie Boulter is sure to be a huge crowd favourite but will face tough competition on court in the ITF World Tour W100 event from 2022 Roland Garros women’s doubles champion Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic, who has been ranked inside the Top 10 in singles, as well as Sweden’s Rebecca Petersen.
Jubb has competed all around the world and is likely to feature in the Wimbledon Championships, which get underway on 27th June, but as a proud Yorkshireman he says that there is really no place like home – especially when that means that friends and family can come to cheer him on. “It’s one of the only times they’ll get to see me play live throughout the year, so It’s good to have them around,” he says.
The Club’s Chairman Rik Smith says that there is a huge buzz around the town as it gets ready to host world class tennis in one of the most picturesque locations on the global tennis tour.
“The stage is set for a fantastic tournament this year and it’s brilliant to have the Ilkley Trophy back where it belongs,” said Smith. “We have an amazing line-up of players from all over the world, including some really strong British players like Paul and Katie, and it promises to be a fantastic day out at the tennis for everyone lucky enough to have tickets.”
A small number of tickets are still available for next week’s Ilkley Trophy, with ground admission tickets starting at £12 and limited luxury hospitality packages available.
For tickets and tournament information go to: www.ilkleytrophy.co.uk
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