Wimbledon Foundation nominates four inspirational young tennis players for coin toss ceremonies

The Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and The Championships, has nominated four inspiring young tennis players to take part in this year’s coin toss tradition at the singles and wheelchair singles finals.

This year’s Championships will celebrate both 25 years of the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI), the All England Club’s community tennis programme, and 50 years of wheelchair tennis. Two WJTI members, Shirley Rodriguez Yugsi and Orion Byfield, and two disability tennis players, Thea Stach and Leo Charlesworth-Mark, have been selected to perform the honour ahead of the event’s biggest matches.

Thea Stach (aged 12, pictured top) will perform the coin toss at the ladies’ wheelchair singles final on No.1 Court on Saturday 11 July, representing the charity Bright Ideas for Tennis which runs a disability tennis programme for adults and children with learning, sensory and physical disabilities. Thea, who has cerebral palsy and autism, began playing tennis through Bright Ideas for Tennis last year to regain strength in her legs after an operation to lengthen her tendons.

Thea’s parents, Justin and Loi Stach, said: “At first, Thea couldn’t hit the ball, and now she is able to do forehands and backhands and recently she did a rally of six or seven shots. For us to have something that Thea’s really into, which is so good for her coordination and development, is a really big deal. The fact that we’ve got to this point, that she’s able to walk out and do the coin toss in front of a stadium of people is an amazing thing.”

Watch Thea’s story below:

Shirley Rodriguez Yugsi (aged 11) will perform the coin toss at the ladies' singles final on Centre Court representing the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative. Shirley was invited to join the year-round WJTI programme when she was just three years old after the WJTI coaching team delivered free tennis sessions at her primary school in Wandsworth.

Marc Codling, WJTI Head Coach, said: “The WJTI visits 50 schools in Merton and Wandsworth every year delivering free tennis sessions for nursery aged children upwards. Each year, we invite

around 75 children who might not ordinarily get the chance to play tennis to join our year-round programme and receive free coaching up to the age of 18. Shirley is a great example of someone who gives 100% to her tennis. She works incredibly hard in every session, looks out for other players and takes on board all the feedback the coaches give her. Shirley’s tennis has improved immensely since she joined the WJTI and we look forward to continuing her tennis journey with her.”

Watch Shirley’s story below:

Leo Charlesworth-Mark (aged 10) will perform the coin toss at the gentlemen's wheelchair singles final on Sunday 12 July on No.1 Court representing the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, a charity supporting people with disabilities who play tennis by providing them with specialist equipment and grants. Sports fan Leo was born with sacral agenesis, a rare condition that affects the lower spine and legs. He started playing wheelchair tennis two years ago and is part of the LTA Under-14 National Age Group Programme (NAGP) which supports the development of promising junior wheelchair tennis players.

Louise Hunt Skelley, ambassador for the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, said: “We are really honoured that the Wimbledon Foundation chose our charity this year, especially as we’re celebrating 50 years of wheelchair tennis. We nominated Leo not only because of his incredible attitude on the court but off court as well. What we absolutely love is his passion for the sport and how that’s impacting others and encouraging anyone with any disability to play.”

Prior to The Championships, Leo enjoyed a surprise hit with British tennis star and Wimbledon Foundation Champion Jack Draper at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

Watch Leo’s story below:

Orion Byfield (aged 11) will perform the coin toss at the gentlemen’s singles final on Centre Court representing the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative. Orion was invited to join the WJTI when he was five years old after the WJTI visited his primary school in Merton. The invitation arrived shortly after Orion’s father passed away from cancer.

Orion’s mother, Ayisha Cunningham said: “I’m so proud of what he’s become knowing that he hasn’t got a male figure in his life. About a month or two after his dad had passed, I got a letter asking if Orion would like to join the WJTI and the journey starts from there. I remember he was having some bad days, I spoke to the coaches, and they take it under their belts to support him. He would go to them, speak to them, and they would help him through it. They have done an immense job with Orion.”

Watch Orion’s story below:

Paige Murphy, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation, said: “We’re incredibly proud to nominate four remarkable young people whose stories embody the transformative power of sport and the life-changing opportunities it can create. We hope that Thea, Shirley, Leo and Orion enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience and that it inspires them to go on to achieve their dreams.”

Thea, Shirley, Leo and Orion will be assisted with their duties by Denise Parnell, Championships Referee, on Centre Court and by Iain Smith, Championships Assistant Referee, on No.1 Court.