Teen ready to fulfil Wimbledon tennis dream
BBCA teenager who, his dad says, "sacrificed" a chunk of his childhood to fulfil a dream of playing at the National Under-14s Boys' Finals is preparing to serve at Wimbledon.
Rowan Thornborough, from Allithwaite, near Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria, is heading to the famous south London courts to compete next month.
The 13-year-old said he had wanted to achieve this since he took up the sport six years ago and was "really looking forward to it".
Dad Michael Thornborough said the tournament had been the aim for the past four years and he was "immensely proud" of his son.
"It's just been a dream and we've made it. I can't believe it," the 57-year-old said.
"We've got to this stage to go and do probably the best thing any child could want to achieve. It's just amazing."
Rowan qualified for the finals following "tough" games at Kendal Tennis Club.
"I felt loads of pressure," he said.
"I had to play against some of my friends who I'd never actually beaten before."
Roman's love for tennis started in 2020 during a holiday on the Isle of Arran.
He now trains for about 15 hours every week, and his dad said: "The amount of playing out time that he's actually missed.
"He's sacrificed quite a bit a chunk of childhood to get to do this and to achieve his dream."
Rowan added: "I've been really enjoying doing all the fitness work with dad, but it's a bit tiring as well."
The competition takes place between 2 and 7 August.