Wheelchair tennis star Robyn Love hails Gordon Reid's help

Robyn Love, Scotland's number one women's wheelchair tennis player, developed her game with support from the former Hermitage Academy pupil.

Love, 32, is hoping to follow in Reid’s wheeltracks by competing in Grand Slam competitions and at future Paralympics.

The Helensburgh star was made an MBE in 2016, shortly after winning gold at the Games in Rio – and just last week was named as an OBE recipient in the King’s birthday honours list.

The accolade came only days after Reid won the 21st Grand Slam wheelchair doubles title of his career – and his 23rd Grand Slam win overall - after securing victory in the French Open at Roland-Garros alongside his long-time doubles partner, Alfie Hewett.

Love also represented Great Britain at those Paralympics in Brazil seven years ago – not in tennis, but in basketball – and took up the yellow ball sport professionally after developing her game with Reid's help.

She said: “Gordon gave me his old chair; he said I could have it when we were chatting at the Tokyo Paralympics, and I didn’t hang about. I was like ‘yes, when I can I meet you?’ [to get the chair].

“He’s a great guy and wants people to be involved in the sport because he loves it so much.

"He could see I had something – we had a hit when he gave me the chair – and he’d love to have more Scottish players flying the flag alongside him.

“We’ve played a bit of basketball together, so we already had a connection, and we grew up reasonably close to each other. We’re about the same age, and we still chat regularly.”

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Reid, 31, said earlier this week that he hoped his OBE, and the achievements that led to it, would inspire other people with disabilities to lead an active and positive lifestyle.

Love, who recently won both the singles and doubles titles at the ITF Futures Series tournament in Bulles, Switzerland, said that sport has given her the confidence to be herself, adding:  “When I was at university, my basketball team was my safe haven. The first person I came out to was in my team, the first person I went out with was in my team.

"In sport you can find common ground, it’s where people go to feel safe. It’s given me so much, and I want to give back.

“Tennis is a sport for everybody, whether you have a disability, if you’re able-bodied, whether you’re gay or from a diverse background.”

Robyn Love (Image: LTA)

Originally from Ayr, Love now lives in Manchester with her partner, fellow GB basketball international Laurie Williams, and their baby Alba.

She spoke of her tennis ambitions and hopes to eventually play at the Paralympics or in a Grand Slam. “Ultimately I want to be the best player I can be,” Love said.

“I want to be proud of the tennis I play and believe I am my only limit.

“Tennis is a very tough game and I respect it too much to think ‘I can play for a year and go to a Grand Slam, no problem’.

"But if I push myself and it means I end up going to the Paralympics or Grand Slams, then imagine that.”

Reid, meanwhile, is gearing up to compete in the cinch Championships at the Queen’s Club in London – the start of the grass court season and the traditional warm-up for Wimbledon – after being named the recipient of the only wildcard slot for the men’s singles event at SW19.

The Queen's Club tournament starts this Friday, June 23, while the wheelchair tournament at Wimbledon runs from July 12-16.