Liverpool International Tennis Tournament hosts 2,000 local children during Schools Day with Barry Cowan

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Merseyside born tennis champ Barry Cowan joined local primary schools from across Liverpool today, to take part in the Liverpool International’s annual Schools Day.


Held at Liverpool’s Calderstones Park, ahead of the main tournament event which starts tomorrow, this year’s Schools Day event saw around 2,000 local school children bussed into the park to take part in training sessions with professional tennis coaches and tennis stars.


The sessions were headed up by the region’s own Barry Cowan, best known for taking Pete Sampras to five sets at Wimbledon, after gaining a wild card entry into Wimbledon back in 2001.


Barry said, “It’s a real privilege to be part of the tournament this year. Although a lot of kids get to watch professional tennis on TV, not many get to watch live matches played up close like this in their own communities.


“But I especially love the tournament’s Schools Day. It’s such a great atmosphere, and it’s great to see so many local kids getting excited, getting to have a go at the sport – and hopefully getting inspired to take up the game in the longer term.


“British tennis is going from strength to strength at the moment, and who knows, we might even find Britain’s next great tennis champ here on these courts.”


Anders Borg, Tournament Director said “One of my main aims in starting the tournament ten years ago was to help take tennis out of what can sometimes be a bit of an elitist environment, and to bring it to local young people on Merseyside.


“Since then we have worked with more than 60,000 youngsters in schools and youth clubs across the region to help introduce them to the game, and I am incredibly proud of that fact.”