Judy Murray OBE, the legendary Scottish tennis coach and mother to multiple Grand Slam winners Andy and Jamie Murray, will bring a participation programme to the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco next month to help inspire young girls and women to take up the sport.
Judy, a former Great Britain Fed Cup captain, has developed a series of initiatives including coaching, leadership, workforce as well as working for many years with the WTA and ITF growing participation around the world. Judy will provide masterclasses for aspiring coaches and volunteers, as well as taster sessions for girls and women during the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco, in Riyadh, which takes place between December 8-10.
A passionate and vocal advocate for equality and inclusion, Judy’s unique skills and experiences amassed during her career in tennis will play a significant part in the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco. Judy will also provide the knowledge and practical steps to ensure a lasting legacy for girls’ and women’s tennis in Saudi Arabia.
She will oversee a series of events including university tennis try-outs, schools tennis masterclasses and taster sessions for children and parents at the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco. Judy believes putting a racket in the hands of the next generation will be as important as watching the stars of tennis take part in the tournament itself.
“Throughout my involvement in tennis, I have championed the cause of giving as many people as possible the opportunity to try tennis and to fall in love with it the way I have, and the way Jamie and Andy have.”
“I am particularly keen to ensure girls and women are given an equal opportunity to enjoy and experience tennis, whether for fun, for fitness or for friendship. Tennis enables all of that and while it is a global sport that has produced some of the greatest sportspeople of our time, it is also, at the same time, a community where everyone can connect.”
“That is the message I have relayed throughout my time as a coach and as a champion for workforce development: we need to remove barriers to participation but also to ensure we can sustain growth in participation and ensure that the community can unite to showcase how special tennis can be, regardless of age, gender or ability.”
“I look forward to bringing that message and the practical skills and knowledge to the tennis community in Saudi Arabia in the effort to introduce more girls and women to tennis.”
Judy Murray has developed several tennis initiatives including Miss-Hits, a starter program for girls aged 5 to 8, which is embraced by schools, community halls and sports centers as well as tennis clubs across the United Kingdom. It helps to introduce girls to tennis in a fun, stimulating and safe learning environment, and creates a bigger female coaching workforce in tennis by appealing to mums, students, teachers and sporting enthusiasts, as well as tennis coaches.
Also the president of the Saudi Tennis Federation is really looking forward to Murray´s visit in the kingdom: “As the president of the Saudi Tennis Federation, I am committed to the development of women’s tennis. The Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco is an excellent opportunity to promote our sport. As part of our partnership with the DTC, we look forward to our joint initiatives on tennis activities for young Saudi women in schools and universities, which will include an upcoming visit by the renowned tennis coach Judy Murray. Murray brings a breadth of experience and skill which will further encourage girls’ participation in tennis”, said Mrs. Arij Almutabagani.
The Diriyah Season is a four-month long celebration of sport, entertainment and culture being held on the outskirts of Riyadh. The Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco is taking place at the Diriyah Arena, which is being purpose built at the ancient site of the Kingdom’s first capital, known as the home of kings and heroes. Follow Diriyah Season’s news and announcements on the official social media pages on Twitter and Instagram @diriyahseason. Web: www.diriyahseason.sa
Follow Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco on the official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube @diriyahtenniscup.
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