Paul Hutchins was a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 tennis player.

Biography

Paul Hutchins was educated at Millfield School, in Street, Somerset, and started playing tennis

Tennis

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...

 at Bristol Lawn Tennis Club aged 11. During his playing career (1962–1970), he represented Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 in two Davis Cup

Davis Cup

The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...

 ties (1-2 record) in 1968. He also reached the 1968 Roland Garros doubles quarter-finals. He was the LTA

Lawn Tennis Association

The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...

’s Men’s National Team Manager and Davis Cup captain from 1975-1987. Hutchins was a man-manager, diplomat and communicator as captain in 31 ties with 17 wins, including the 1978 Davis Cup final against United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 in Rancho Mirage, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. In 1987, Hutchins set up his own management, marketing and sponsorship company, Tennis Concepts, working closely with the LTA and the All England Club in setting up the Performance Club Programme, a national club league and junior scheme, Road To Wimbledon. He was director of Riverside Indoor Tennis Clubs (1987–1997) and also a television commentator (1987–2000), prior to returning to the LTA as Head of Men’s Tennis from 2007-2009. He continues to work for the LTA at Roehampton

Roehampton

Roehampton is a district in south-west London, forming the western end of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It lies between the town of Barnes to the north, Putney to the east and Wimbledon Common to the south. The Richmond Park golf courses are west of the neighbourhood, and just south of these is...

, reviewing and enhancing the competitive structure and Tournament Director of the pre-Wimbledon grass-court tournament at Nottingham

Nottingham

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...

. Married to Shali, the couple have four tennis-playing children Romy, Lauren, Blake and Ross, a current ATP pro.

Sources

• Guardian.co.uk Tennis features