ASPIRING Barry Tennis player Matthias Ruggles topped off a successful summer season by becoming 14 and Under Welsh National Champion at The Cymru National Tennis Championships held in Penarth last week.

Matthias who attends St Cyres School in Penarth took the title in a thrilling final beating Martin Gil-Rueda of Swansea.

Ruggles, a member of Dinas Powys tennis club, has had a successful year rising up to a high of 63 in the 14U GB rankings, competing in two National Tour events in Wrexham and Edinburgh, representing South Wales in the County Cup Finals and earlier in August played on the famous grass of Wimbledon after winning the South Wales regional stage of the Play your Way to Wimbledon competition.

Last year, Matthias was recognised for his hard work on and off the court at the Inaugural Tennis Black List Awards at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, which honours role models from the black community, winning the Rising Star award. Matthias said: ‘My goals this year were to improve my tennis level and ranking to be able to compete at national competitions, represent South Wales and play on the grass at Wimbledon.

I have reached all my goals and surpassed them by becoming 14U Welsh National Champion, which is an amazing feeling.’

Matthias’ next goal is to improve his game and physicality further to climb up the rankings and try to meet the criteria needed to gain access to the Welsh National over 14s training programme based at Cardiff Met which would enable him to access top tier local training facilities and coaching and cut down on travelling time.

Unlike a lot of the top players in the UK, Matthias does not have access to regular indoor performance squads and tennis specific strength and conditioning due to the lack of these in the Cardiff and Vale area and needs to travel regularly to Swansea and Newport to access some.

‘I put in a lot of hours on court by myself, working on my fitness, practising the techniques I learn in my individual sessions with performance coach Phil Thomas and developing my game play with Dinas Powys coach and hitter Ollie Evans.

I’m also lucky enough to belong to a supportive club where I get great advice from head coach Rob Walbyoff and where members of the Dinas Powys Men’s team offer to hit with me on a regular basis but it gets hard particularly in the winter months with no indoor facilities.'

Matthias and mum Claire are currently busy writing to local businesses in search of sponsorships to help support Matthias’ development and aspirations.

Claire added: "Tennis is a very expensive sport. The costs are phenomenal with private lessons, squads, gym membership, tournament fees, hotels and travel costs and as a single mum, working full time, the need to travel almost daily to find appropriate level squads makes it even more difficult.

"Matthias does a lot of hard work himself on and off court but its not the same as having a specific tennis programme in a performance centre which a lot of the top boys have.

"Matthias is hoping any sponsorship he receives can help lower the cost of travelling and fees to access further indoor squads or by funding more local individual coaching support.

"Matthias is keen to put in the work to improve to try to compete with the best but needs the opportunity to do so which is difficult financially.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Matthias can contact mum Claire via email at matthiasrugglestennis@gmail.com.