Ben Bartram starts British Open campaign with impressive win

Norfolk’s Ben Bartram got his Lexus British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships campaign underway with a 6-3 6-3 win against France's Nicolas Charrier on Tuesday, with his rise up the rankings continuing at an impressive pace.

British No.3 Bartram, who won the Junior Singles title at last year's US Open, overcame windy conditions to seal victory at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre.

Still only 18, one of the rising stars of the British wheelchair game was satisfied with his display as he made his way through to the second round.

"My performance was good, I'm happy with the way that I played," said Bartram, who won the Junior title at the British Open last year and is supported by the LTA's Pro Scholarship programme. "This is my first hardcourt match in quite a while so it took a couple of games to get used to it. But I'm happy with the way I'm playing going into my next round.

"I felt I dealt with the conditions really well, I kept my margins very high and I gave myself a chance in my serves and my returns, getting the point and building from there."

A first win in the main draw at the Lexus British Open was another step forward in the career of Bartram, who is following in the footsteps of his idol Alfie Hewett as he targets the biggest prizes in the game.

Comparisons with Hewett are inevitable for a young player who hails from the same Norfolk reign as one of the shining stars of the wheelchair game, with Bartram suggesting the inspiration provided by the multiple Grand Slam champion is a driving force in his story.

"When I first started playing it was just a once-a-week thing and I didn't really think it would get to this level," he continues.

"Then I started playing a few tournaments and it just grew from there. "Alfie has always been a massive inspiration to me. To see how well he is doing and what he has already done for our sport is a massive inspiration to me.

"When I was younger, I watched a lot of Alfie and other players as well on YouTube and it certainly helped to see how they did it.

"Then I got to practice with Alfie and you learn so much when you are on the court with him. He's ridiculously good and has that experience I still need to get."

Bartram already has an impressive list of titles to his credit, with a highlight coming last year as he beat his close friend, doubles partner and fellow Brit Dahnon Ward in straight sets in New York to become the first winner of the US Open Junior Wheelchair Tennis Championships to confirm his status as one of best juniors in wheelchair tennis.

For good measure, Bartram and Ward also added the doubles title and Bartram ended 2022 by being named ITF Junior Wheelchair Tennis Player of the Year (an accolade that Ward also win in 2020) and earning his place on the shortlist for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. Having recently turned 18, it's senior competition all the way now for Bartram, but he looks back fondly on his US Open titles.

"It's just an amazing feeling to know that I'll always be the first winner. It's just a great feeling," began Bartram, who was named Junior Player of the Year at the 2022 LTA Awards and Junior Wheelchair Tennis Player of the Year at the 2023 LTA Awards.

"It's different from any tournament that I've ever been to. It's just an amazing atmosphere. It's just the best facilities. It was just amazing.

"It was my first trip to America and playing on the courts at Flushing Meadows is another dream come true.

"You sometimes sit back and think is this really happening? Wheelchair tennis is growing so quickly and it's amazing to be a part of it.

"Now I would love to be a part of that. My goal now is to progress as quickly as possible and play at the Slams."

Hewett is an inspiration to all the tennis hopefuls following in wheel tracks and it may not be long before Bartram climbs the ladder to challenge him on court.

To find out more about wheelchair tennis, check out the LTA's website