Brand new sports facility aims to encourage next tennis generation

A brand new sports facility in Moray is set to transform the yearly “Wimbledon Effect” into a year-round attraction for tennis fans.

Some £1.63m has been invested in the four-court indoor arena based in Elgin, which has been inspired by some of Scotland’s sporting greats.

Iain Stokes, the centre’s CEO, told STV News: “In 2016, Scotland had three number one tennis players in the world – Andy Murray, Jamie Murray and Gordon Reid – and that inspired the trustees here to invest in tennis in the north of Scotland.”

“We are part of a programme with the Lawn Tennis Association, Tennis Scotland and SportScotland called ‘Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis’, so this is the second one that has been opened this year and we are lucky enough it’s in Elgin.”

The courts have been especially constructed to cope with both recreational and competitive tennis. 

Young players have been the first to benefit during special summer camps set up for the school holidays.

The four courts are also designed with accessibility in mind and it’s hoped some celebrity visitors may grace Moray with their presence to give their professional seal of approval.

Stokes added: “We are definitely looking into wheelchair tennis and I was finding out all about blind tennis when I was at Wimbledon recently.

“There’s tennis for all. I met Gordon Reid last week and I was telling him all about the Elgin facility and we would love for Gordon, Andy and Jamie and other top tennis players in Scotland to come and visit and help us engage people here with the sport.”