Wheelchair tennis player Lapthorne receives MBE in King’s birthday honours

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A Paralympian wheelchair tennis player hopes he’s left the sport ‘in a better place than he found it’ after being honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Andy Lapthorne from Maidenhead received an MBE for services to tennis after a long and distinguished career that’s brought him 18 Grand Slam titles, spanning all four majors, and bronze and silver Paralympic Games medals.

Lapthorne was born with cerebral palsy but has been playing wheelchair tennis since the age of 10 and turned professional in 2008, competing in the sport’s quad division.

He reached a career high ranking of World No.1 in January 2020, having achieved the same feat in the doubles game in January 2011.

Since turning pro he’s won 77 ITF titles with 27 of those come in singles competitions and 50 in doubles tournaments.

He has been British No.1 since January 2013.

His greatest personal triumphs came in 2014 and 2019 when he won the US Open as a singles player, whilst he’s reached the final of all the other Grand Slam tournaments Wimbledon, Australian Open and French Open.

In doubles he has 16 Grand Slam titles spanning all four Grand Slam tournaments dating back to 2011.

He’s also represented Great Britain at four Paralympic Games, making his debut at London 2012 when he won quad doubles silver alongside Peter Norfolk OBE.

At Rio in 2016 he won silver in the singles competition and bronze alongside Jamie Burdekin in the doubles in what is still the longest Paralympic match in history at four hours and 25 minutes.

At last summer’s Paris Paralympics he won silver in the doubles alongside Greg Slade before confirming it would be his final Paralympics.

Speaking of the honour and his achievements this week, he said he hoped he’s inspired players from a similar background to him into Wheelchair Tennis.

“It’s amazing to receive an honour like this. For all the years of hard work and sacrifice to be recognised in this way is incredible not just for me, but for my family and friends as well,” he said.

"Tennis is known as a sport that is for more of the upper classes... and I'm someone from a working-class background.

"I'm hoping that this will inspire people from similar backgrounds to me to pick up tennis," the 34-year-old said.

In 2024 he played in front of a full crowd at the Paralympics in Paris, something he said showed "how far the sport has come".

"I'm travelling the world, playing tournaments, being able to earn a living from a disability sport," he said.

"I'm hoping that I've left the sport in a better place than when I found it when I do finally [retire]."

Lapthorne has also represented Great Britain’s Quad team at the world Team Cup, playing in 41 ties since 2009 and helping his country win three titles - in 2009, 2014 and 2018.

From the world of tennis, he was joined in receiving an honour by former British No.1 Virginia Wade, who receives a CBE for services to tennis and charity.

Former Loughborough University lecturer and coach educator Rod Thorpe receives an MBE. Tennis coach and tutor Jane Poynder also receives a BEM for over 50 years of service to the sport.

Chief Executive of the LTA, Scott Lloyd said: “We are delighted that Andy, Virginia, Rod and Jane have been recognised for their contributions to tennis and beyond in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

“On behalf of the LTA and the wider British tennis community, we send them our warmest congratulations for these deserved awards, which are fitting recognition for what they have each achieved within our sport and more widely.”