Ewell Castle Tennis Academy keeps national crown and targets Rio

Ewell Castle Tennis Academy has retained the LTA Schools’ Team Tennis national championship for a second straight year and is now in line for possible selection to represent England at the ISF World Schools Championships in Rio de Janeiro in September 2026. The Surrey school also reports Junior Wimbledon success, multiple county and independent schools titles, and a push to raise sponsor funding for its next season.

Why it matters: - Ewell Castle Tennis Academy’s repeat national title keeps the Surrey programme at No. 1 in Great Britain and puts it in contention for England selection at a global school-team event in Rio. - A Rio berth would add international exposure and new travel and competition costs for a school programme that already funds bursary places. - The academy’s results also show a pipeline from school tennis to elite junior events, including Junior Wimbledon.

What happened: - Ewell Castle Tennis Academy retained the LTA Schools’ Team Tennis national championship for the second consecutive year and won the Glanvill Cup. - The academy holds the No. 1 school tennis ranking in Great Britain. - National champions are now in contention to be selected to represent England at the ISF World Schools Championships in Rio de Janeiro in September 2026. - Confirmation of England selection is expected before the September 2026 event.

The details: - The season also brought Independent Schools and county titles across multiple age groups. - Ewell Castle was named Independent Schools champion at 18U boys and 13U boys. - Surrey titles came at 10U boys, 11U boys and 15U boys. - At the Grade 1 LTA Nationals at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton in April 2026, Ewell Castle players reached the semi-finals in singles and doubles at 16U. - The academy also reached a doubles final at 18U in Roehampton. - The Grade 1 LTA Nationals is a recognised pathway event toward Junior Wimbledon. - Three Ewell Castle scholars received wild cards into Junior Wimbledon this summer. - One player earned direct entry to the main draw and reached the quarter-finals. - Two other scholars competed in qualifying. - The youngest of the three Junior Wimbledon players is 15. - All three Junior Wimbledon players are supported on bursaries. - The academy trains mainly on outdoor courts and does not operate extensive indoor facilities. - Tom Burn coaches the academy and leads a team. - Ewell Castle Tennis Academy receives no funding from the Lawn Tennis Association. - The academy funds bursary places to help players cover coaching, travel, sports science, welfare and competition entry costs.

Between the lines: - The championship run suggests the programme is producing results without the funding or indoor infrastructure that often support elite junior tennis pathways. - The bursary model appears central to keeping promising players in the system, especially as competition moves from domestic school tennis to national and international events. - A successful England selection would likely raise the academy’s profile and increase the need for outside sponsorship.

What’s next: - Ewell Castle is seeking corporate sponsors and partners for the 2026-27 season and a possible England campaign in Rio. - Partnership options include funding a player bursary, supporting the Rio trip or backing full-season academy sponsorship. - If selected, the academy would need extra funding for team travel, accommodation and competition expenses in Brazil. - The ISF World Schools Championships in Rio de Janeiro are organized by the International School Sport Federation and will bring together national school teams from around the world.

The bottom line: - Ewell Castle Tennis Academy enters the new season as Britain’s top school tennis programme, but the next step from national dominance to international competition will depend on both selection and funding.