Norwich Para-Standing Tennis Player Reflects on Triumphant Year

Georgia Routledge, a 20-year-old para-standing tennis champion from Norwich, expressed that she “never expected” to achieve such a successful year, having only discovered the sport a year prior. Routledge secured the runner-up position at the European Championships in Barcelona before claiming victory at the World Championships in Turin in June. Para-standing tennis caters to players with physical impairments who compete without the aid of a wheelchair. Routledge herself was born with cerebral palsy and experiences hemiplegia on her right side. Her introduction to the sport occurred last November when her coach located a para-standing tennis festival in Roehampton, south west London. Routledge recounted the experience, stating, “We met all these other people who were exactly like me… it was the most amazing day.” Driven by a desire for further play, Routledge and her coach, Donna Andrews, sought out competitions globally. The 20-year-old acknowledged her coach, whom she has known for 14 years, as a “huge part of the journey.” Ms. Andrews, who has prior experience working with career grand slam and Paralympic champion Alfie Hewett, commented: “Georgia did so well and has been rewarded for all the training she had put in pre-tournament.” She added, “She is so grateful for all the help from everyone in Norfolk who have contributed to her success.” To date, para-standing tennis has been featured exclusively in exhibition events at grand slam competitions. Routledge expressed her hope that major tennis tournaments, including Wimbledon, will eventually offer para-standing players the same opportunities as able-bodied and wheelchair competitors. She remarked, “I am only 20, so I’d like to think that it could happen and I could also play in it for a good length of time.” She further added, “Fingers crossed, I do think it is possible, it just might take a bit of time.” Routledge also shared, “I did get invited to play at Wimbledon, that’s an absolute dream for any tennis player, but I was really gutted that I was away on holiday at the time!”