Tennis star Konta in hometown surprise for young Eastbourne fan

EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Johanna Konta of Great Britain has a surprise hit on court with tennis for kids Ruby prior to the Nature Valley International at Devonshire Park on June 21, 2019 in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for LTA) *** Local Caption *** Johanna Konta SUS-190622-093409001

Britain and Eastbourne’s Johanna Konta started her preparations for this year’s Nature Valley International in her home town with a surprise warm up on court with local nine-year-old Ruby Wood on Friday afternoon.

The surprise began when the Great Britain Fed Cup star arrived at Ruby’s home in Eastbourne to pick up her and mum Carissa before driving together to Devonshire Park for an exclusive practice on court no 1 in front of Ruby’s proud family.

The session was part of the LTA’s Tennis for Kids programme which gives children between the ages of four and 11 the chance to try tennis for the first time. More than 74,000 children have taken part in the programme since it was launched following Great Britain’s famous Davis Cup victory in 2015. Gildredge Park in Eastbourne, where Ruby first learned to play is one of a number of park sites across Sussex and the country where Tennis for Kids is delivered.