Wimbledon fever comes to Haringey's tennis courts (From This Is Local London)

Wimbledon fever comes to Haringey's tennis courts

10:30am Tuesday 24th June 2008 in

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As the summer's Wimbledon season hots up, tennis fans should turn their eyes towards Haringey's success.

Albert Road Recreation Ground in Wood Green has been named as national tennis park of the year by The Lawn Tennis Association.

The award, praising the ground's tennis facilities and coaching, comes just weeks after Haringey was named as one of five tennis hotspots in the country - and the only one in London - by the Tennis Foundation.

The foundation praised tennis coach Robby Sukhdeo who runs the ground's Pavilion Sports Club and Café.

Executive director Sue Mappin, who selected Albert Road Rec for the award, said: "If I could, I would look to replicate what Robby has created at every local authority park in the country.

"It's a great example of a park that used to suffer from antisocial behaviour being transformed into a fantastic community facility."

Mr Sukhdeo leases the land from Haringey Council and his team of five coaches teach hundreds of school pupils from across Haringey and provide free tennis for all children at their courts.

Cabinet member for leisure, culture and lifelong learning, Councillor Dhiren Basu, said: "This award is deserved recognition for all the hard work that Robby Sukhdeo has put into making the Pavilion Sports and Café such as success.

"We have been very pleased to support him in his venture and work with him and the Friends of Albert Road Recreation Ground to create one of the best parks in London.

"The hotspot announcement means we will be able to make similar improvements to tennis facilities and coaching across Haringey over the coming years, and really become one of the best areas for tennis in the country."

Mr Sukhdeo will pick up the award at the Wimbledon Ball and spend a day on centre court as a guest of the Lawn Tennis Association.

He will also be joining fellow coach Siwan Stephens, from White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre, in developing a programme to improve tennis facilities and encourage even more of the borough's residents to take up the game.