Young tennis stars will descend on Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre this week – for the most prestigious junior team event in the world.
The site, run by award-winning operator Everyone Active on behalf of Sunderland City Council, is set to once again host the 2026 Tennis Europe Winter Cups by Dunlop.
Taking place from Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, the tournament will see the top eight boys’ and girls’ teams compete in the 12 and Under Final Rounds to become continental champions.
The event will begin at 9.30am on Friday, February 9 with a grand opening ceremony which will be attended by Mayor of Sunderland Ehthesham Haque, Tennis Europe and Lawn Tennis Association representatives, local schools and county officials.
The Tennis Europe Winter Cups were launched in 1977 and have incorporated a 12 and under category since 2012. The event is open to teams nominated by European national federations.
In the boys’ under-12s section in Sunderland, hosts Great Britain will face France, Italy, Czechia, Romania, Estonia, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
The girls’ under-12s will see Great Britain take on France, Croatia, Czechia, Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria and Ukraine.
Everyone Active’s contract manager, Ian Bradgate, said: “We are delighted to again be hosting a tournament of such international standing at Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre.
“Being chosen to stage this event is something we are enormously proud of and it is brilliant that members of the local community will be getting involved.
“Some of these players could go on to enjoy fantastic professional careers and it is exciting to think that we are a big part of their journey.”
The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Ehthesham Haque, said: “It’s wonderful to be welcoming one of the most important tournaments in international junior tennis back to Sunderland.
“We have a proud history of delivering world-class sporting and cultural events and we’re delighted that this prestigious tournament has chosen to come here for the eleventh time.
“This is a tournament that has produced some of the world’s greatest players over the years so it’s a fantastic opportunity to see the tennis superstars of the future in action and I hope it will encourage more of our young people to try out the excellent facilities and tennis coaching sessions we have here in Sunderland.”
The public are welcome to attend the opening ceremony as well as play across all three days free of charge.
Matches will take place on Friday (10.30am-4.30pm approx), Saturday (10am-3.30pm approx) and Sunday (10am-3.30pm approx). Free parking and café facilities are available.
