Searle on his 'step-up' to Wimbledon men's singles

"It's a lot different being in the men's draw. It's a step-up for sure."

Henry Searle is remembering how aged 17 he ended the 61-year wait for a boys' singles champion at Wimbledon - the first GB player to win the prestigious title since Stanley Matthews in 1962.

Just as much though the Wolverhampton-born Searle is looking back at his transition to the Wimbledon men's singles draw, in 2023. Two years later the 19-year-old is back, after being handed the wild card to play in this year's championships.

He is due to take on US player Ethan Quinn, in the first round of the world-famous tournament.

"I think we've improved a lot [over the last two years] working really hard. The improvement since the juniors has been quite big," Searle told BBC Radio WM.

The hardest part of transitioning from the juniors to the seniors was the need to be "100% on it" physically and mentally, he added.

Searle said his biggest inspirations from British players still competing were Jack Draper and Dan Evans.

Draper is the same height as Searle and is also left-handed, leading to comparisons between the pair.

"I watch him quite a lot. He's obviously doing an amazing job this year," he said.

"I'm playing doubles with [Draper] and trying to take as much advice off him as possible - obviously him being around for so long and being at the very top of the game."

Searle trained at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash club in the city.

Manager of the club, Mark Hughes, has headed to Wimbledon to watch him play.

"Unfortunately it looks like he's playing at the hottest time of day - 31 degrees - but he does pretty well in the warm so we're pretty confident he'll perform as best he can today," Mr Hughes said.

"And with the support of all the team and everyone from the club, he'll give everything he's got today and I think he's got a good chance as well he's playing really well on the grass."

Searle has trained at the club since the age of three, initially playing football before being persuaded to try tennis.

However, he still loves the sport and has recently become an ambassador for Wolverhampton Wanderers' charity, The Wolves Foundation.

"I love football and have been a Wolves fan since I was a little kid, getting to games as much as possible when my schedule allows," he said.

"I am excited about helping out wherever I can with the Foundation's work encouraging more activity across the city."

The 19-year-old still goes to the Wolverhampton tennis club most weekends.

Mr Hughes said: "Tennis is a tough sport, it can be quite a lonely environment so with professional players it's lovely they can come back home and just be part of the team, part of a family and reset again before they go out on tour around the world."

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