Westcliff-on-Sea tennis ace June Pearce hailed the award of a lifetime after being named Senior Female Player of the Year award at the prestigious LTA Awards, presented by Lexus.
The 90-year-old claimed the award at the ceremony which was held at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton on Thursday 16 April.
Pearce was presented with her award by former British number one singles player Andrew Castle.
“It feels amazing to have won,” said Pearce. “The only way I’ll stop playing is when I can’t run anymore. I love playing, I just love hitting balls.
“I started when I was I my 20s. I played netball and other sports before that. At work, they started a men’s football team and left the women out, so I decided to start a tennis section alongside a netball section.
“From there, I got enough players, entered a league, and entered my first tournament and I won it. So, I just kept going from there.”
The LTA Awards, presented by Lexus, celebrate the passion, dedication and impact of the people who make tennis and padel thrive across Britain.
First launched in 2015 by former LTA President Cathie Sabin OBE, the awards honour the extraordinary contributions of volunteers, coaches, officials and players who give their time, energy and expertise to grow the game at every level.
More than 3,000 nominations were submitted across 14 award categories, reflecting the incredible depth of talent, service and innovation within British tennis and padel. Each winner was recognised for making an outstanding contribution to the sport and helping open it up to more people than ever before.
LTA President Roy Colabawalla, speaking after the event at the National Tennis Centre, said:
“The LTA Awards are a chance to recognise the people and venues who truly keep our sport thriving.
“Grassroots tennis and padel are at the heart of everything we do, and it’s the dedication of volunteers, coaches, officials, and organisers that opens the game up to communities across Britain.
“Every finalist demonstrates remarkable commitment, creating opportunities for others and inspiring the next generation of players.
“Looking ahead, our goal remains clear: to continue to make tennis and padel welcoming, accessible and exciting for everyone, wherever they are and whatever their background.”
For more information about the LTA Awards, visit: https://www.lta.org.uk/awards
Share