Wimbledon foundation nominates four inspirational young people for coin toss ceremonies ahead of singles finals

 The Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships, has nominated four charities to take part in this year’s coin toss tradition at the Singles and Wheelchair Singles Finals. Each charity, dedicated to breaking down barriers for young people in sport, has selected a young person to perform the honour ahead of these marquee matches. 

The Wimbledon Foundation donates more than £4 million a year to local, national and international charities to support projects which strengthen the local community, inspire the next generation through sport, build healthy communities and respond in times of need. This year’s chosen charities are Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, AFC Wimbledon Foundation, Disability Sports Trust and the Junction Elite Project.  

This year’s Championships celebrates the 50th anniversary of historic victories at Wimbledon wins by Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe, both pioneers of social change, as well as 20 years of wheelchair tennis. In this landmark year, honouring community groups that champion access to sport was a fitting choice for The Championships’ time-honoured coin toss tradition. 

 Meet the young people performing the coin toss ceremonies: 

Lydia Lowe (age 8) will perform the coin toss at the Ladies’ Wheelchair Singles Final on No.1 Court on Saturday 12 July representing the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, a charity supporting people with disabilities who play tennis by providing them with specialist equipment and grants. Lydia suffered a brain injury in January 2024 leaving her visually impaired and having to learn to walk, talk and eat again.  

Lydia has been supported by the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust to play visually impaired tennis. Lydia’s mother, Leanne, said: “As part of her rehabilitation, the doctors said to try and get Lydia back into doing things that she was doing before. She got taken onto a tennis court and she picked up her racket and all she wanted to do was use her left hand and that’s how she’s got her left hand back, through tennis.” 

Sophie Kneen (age 12) will perform the coin toss at the Ladies’ Singles Final on Centre Court on Saturday 12 July representing AFC Wimbledon Foundation. Sophie is part of their Women and Girls Inclusion Project which is being funded by the Wimbledon Foundation over three years and aims to increase female participation levels and help more women and girls into coaching and leadership roles in sport. 

Kate Wells, Women and Girls’ Officer at AFC Wimbledon Foundation, said: “We work with women and girls to provide them with inclusive, safe environments to step into and try football for the first time and build their confidence and self-esteem to explore other pathways. Sophie is such a great, positive energy to have at our sessions, she’s really respectful to her coaches and to her peers, and because of that we felt she really deserved to take part in the coin toss ceremony this year.”  

Temi Johnson (age 28) will perform the coin toss at the Gentlemen’s Wheelchair Singles Final on Sunday 13 July on No.1 Court representing Disability Sports Coach, a charity which helps children and adults living with disabilities to take part in sport, including in the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth.  

Sports fan Temi, who has cerebral palsy, began volunteering with Disability Sports Coach after leaving college. Through taking part in the charity’s Inclusive Activity Leaders programme, Temi is now employed as a qualified coach running sports activities for disabled children and adults at Disability Sport Coach’s Club Wandsworth.   

Temi’s mother, Rachel, said: “Disability Sports Coach has really supported Temi throughout. From little things like helping him with this CV, mentoring him, coaching courses, and, most importantly, helping him learn in a way that suits him. They’ve helped him to understand the importance of volunteering and giving back and really supporting your community.” 

Ambrose Caldecott (age 11) will perform the coin toss at the Gentlemen’s Singles Final on Centre Court on Sunday 13 July representing The Junction Elite Project, a Wandsworth-based charity dedicated to providing developmental sporting experiences to young people, with a particular focus on young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Ambrose, a regular attendee at Junction Elite’s weekly football sessions, was diagnosed with bone cancer in March 2024 and has undergone chemotherapy and several surgeries over the last 12 months. 

Billy Oram, Director of Youth Football at The Junction Elite Project, said: “From the moment Ambrose joined us, he engaged in everything, he encouraged everyone around him. He’s just an energy that we love having around. When I see Ambrose walking out onto Centre Court, I’ll have the biggest smile on my face. Just to look over to him and his family, after everything they’ve been through, it will be a celebration and proud moment for us all.” 

Amanda Horton-Mastin, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to nominate four fantastic charities supported by the Foundation which are all about making sure everyone can access and take part in sport, and enjoy all the benefits that sport brings. We really hope that these four incredibly deserving young people enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that it inspires them to go on to achieve their dreams.” 

Prior to The Championships, British tennis stars Katie Boulter and Jack Draper were announced as the first official Wimbledon Foundation Champions and met with each of the four Coin Toss champions at Wimbledon.  

Lydia, Sophie, Temi and Ambrose will be assisted with their duties by Denise Parnell, Championships Referee on Centre Court, and by Iain Smith, Championships Assistant Referee on No.1 Court.