FREE tennis lessons were on offer for budding Wimbledon champions in Wokingham last weekend in hopes of inspiring a future generation to take on the sport.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the sport on July 16 and 17 with free coaching on offer at Cantley Park and time for families to play with some surely inspired by Wokingham-boy Marcus Willis’s showdown against Roger Federer at this year’s championship.

There was also be the opportunity for people to have their photo taken with the Davis Cup Trophy as part of a national Trophy Tour of Great Britain launched by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in April this year.

Cllr Angus Ross, executive member for environment, said: “I hope everyone who came along to the tennis weekend thoroughly enjoyed themselves and now feel inspired to take up the sport. We have a number of courts for hire, with even more to come at Cantley, so there is nothing to stop you playing and follow in the footsteps of the Davis Cup winners.”

Leo Tutt, LTA regional tennis participation manager, said the response to the Great British Tennis Weekend was amazing and added: “More than 400 local people booked onto one of the free coaching sessions on offer, reflecting the high level of demand for tennis within the Wokingham Borough area. We are very pleased to be working closely with Wokingham Borough Council to improve both the facilities, and the opportunities, for people to play more tennis locally.”