THE WIMBLEDON season inspires a lot of us to get our racket and knock a ball around.

Millions of us have been glued to TV screens watching the nail-biting tennis games at Wimbledon.

Perhaps the biggest tennis-related news thus far, though, is Andy Murray - the world's number one - being knocked out of the Wimbledon competition.

But closer to home, news of Newport Tennis Centre seeing off stiff competition to win two top sport awards has been equally significant.

The tennis facility won the National Community Venue of the Year in the Tennis Wales awards.

Later, the centre went through as a finalist in another competition and subsequently won the Aegon British Tennis Award.

The award - according to the Aegon website - recognises the "great work at county, regional and national level with prizes awarded to the winners at each stage".

Newport Live - a charity which manages the tennis facility - was invited to celebrate the achievement at the awards ceremony at The All England Lawn Tennis Club on Tuesday, July 4, during the Wimbledon Championships.

The awards were presented by special guests, including HRH The Duchess of Gloucester and overseen by former tennis player Andrew Castle.

Steve Ward, the chief executive of Newport Live, said it was "exciting" to receive the award.

He said: “It’s recognition for the team behind tennis who have worked tirelessly to develop a new and innovative programme.

"The award will inspire us to continue the improvement and we look forward to continuing to work with the Lawn Tennis Association, the Tennis Foundation and Tennis Wales to create a new chapter for tennis in the city.”

However the tennis centre's rosy picture has not always been the case.

In 2013, the Newport Tennis Centre saw empty courts, with little community engagement.

However, fast-forward four years and the courts are now buzzing with nearly 350 weekly participants signed up to the coaching programme.

The incredible turnaround - which helped the centre win the awards - has been credited to many organisations and individuals, including Newport Live, Tennis Wales and tennis development officer Rhys Jones.

In the last year alone, the centre has worked across 16 schools in Newport, to give more than 3,600 primary school children the opportunity to play tennis.

Tennis enthusiast John Miller, who lives in Newport, said the centre is "fantastic".

"It's such a fantastic facility and I'm pleased that they've won the awards," said Mr Miller.

"It's a great asset for the city of Newport because the UK needs more indoor tennis facilities.

"As we have an indoor tennis centre here that's bound to help tennis players in Newport."

The 60-year-old added: "I'm played there lots of times and long may it be here."

Walter Craig, who lives in Cwmbran, said he comes to Newport specifically to play at the Newport Tennis Centre.

He said: "It's a wonderful place to play tennis.

"The coaches and the people are full of enthusiasm and drive.

"I hope Newport will see a tennis legend."

He added: "I'm not surprised that the centre has won the awards because it's fantastic in all ways."

For more information, visit the website www.newportlive.co.uk/tennis or call 01633 656757