County's tennis duo make Paralympics squad

Norwich teenager Ben Bartram will join Cantley's Alfie Hewett in the wheelchair tennis squad for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, it has been confirmed.

Bartram, 19, made his Wimbledon debut this year, losing to his Norfolk counterpart Hewett 6-1 6-4 in the first round on the singles.

Hewett, 26, went on to win his first singles title at the All England Club to complete a career grand slam.

Paris will be the Cantley star's third Paralympic games; he won two silver medals at Rio 2016 and one silver at Tokyo 2020.

Bartram, who has a rare genetic condition that affects his skeletal development and his muscles, started playing tennis aged 11.

His first experience of wheelchair tennis was watching Hewett's double-medal haul in 2016.

"It's going to be so cool to be around the other athletes competing," Bartram said.

"Every four years, everybody works hard to be at their best level for that one tournament... it's another dream coming true."

Bartram's ranking meant he had been expecting to make the squad for France, but it has now been confirmed.

Despite his loss, the Norwich teenager was proud of his Wimbledon singles match against Hewett.

"I told myself to be a bit braver in the game and try and take a few more risks," Bartram said.

"I know he's [Alfie] been working so hard to get that final slam in his long list of grand slams.

"There's no reason I can't put that hard work in and hopefully get there one day."

Bartram relished playing at Wimbledon for the first time, and earned his first win there in the wheelchair doubles, with partner Daniel Caverzaschi of Spain. The pair eventually lost in the semi-finals.

"You got all the celebrities walking around you and you're having to pinch yourself thinking 'what am I doing here?'," he said.

The Paralympics run from 28 August to 8 September.

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