By Owen Morgan

Llanelli loves its sporting heroes, especially those who wear Scarlet.

Delme Thomas, Phil Bennett, Ieuan Evans, Stephen Jones . . . the names trip off the tongue of every rugby-loving resident.

This week the town is getting behind another Sosban sporting hero, but this one will be decked out from head to toe in white.

No, the good folk of Llanelli haven’t suddenly switched allegiance to the rugby All Whites from across the Loughor Bridge.

They will be supporting town’s professional tennis player Evan Hoyt, who will be obeying the all-white dress code at Wimbledon.

Hoyt and his doubles partner Luke Johnson, will be stepping out on the hallowed turf to make their debuts at the most prestigious tennis tournament on the planet.

The Welsh player’s journey to SW19 started in “Heart and Soul Rugby Country” when his parents took him along to Llanelli Tennis and Squash Club.

The youngster soon started to show his promise according to club chairman Mark Westcott: “Evan was one of the top players in Europe as a youngster. He was always destined to get to the top levels in the game. He’s got a great attitude and work ethic.”

That attitude and work ethic was tested to the full in 2016 when Hoyt’s progress in the professional ranks was halted by a serious shoulder injury which put him out of the game for 18 months.

However, since his return the 24-year-old has shot back up the world rankings thanks to a number of singles and doubles title wins, which ultimately earned him and Leeds-born Johnson a wildcard place in the main doubles draw at Wimbledon.

Evan Hoyt Talks Wimbledon, Wildcards, And Learning The Winning Habit

Mr Westcott said: “We always thought he would get there and hopefully now he is over his injury he will fulfil his potential.”

Although Hoyt’s progression in the game has taken him far away from South west Wales, he has never forgotten his tennis playing roots.

In truth, it would be difficult for him to do so even if he tried. His father is the club’s vice-chairman, while his mother is a former secretary.

Despite his tennis commitments, which have taken him as far afield as Australia, America and all over Europe, Hoyt is a regular and popular visitor back at the club formed in 1909.

Mr Westcott says: “He’s still very much part of the club, whenever he’s home he comes down.

“The family have been a part of the club since he started playing. He was about four or five when he first started.

“His father is the vice chairman and his mother was integral in getting the club redeveloped. She was the secretarywhen we had funding from the Welsh Government five years ago.

“We managed to pretty much rebuild the club with the money we had to improve the facilities. We’ve kicked on since then, but his mother was the driving force behind that.

“And although he doesn’t have to do it so much now, his dad is always there to fix or mend things that need doing down at the club. He still does that now. They are genuinely a nice family.”

Hoyt still helps out on the playing side when he’s back in Llanelli passing on tips to the club’s thriving junior section and turning out for the club’s successful senior league teams.

Mr Westcott says: “Whenever Evan comes home he spends time down the club and he helps nurture our young players. He’s genuinely still part of the club and he gives his time whenever he’s home.

“We’ve got teams in the top divisions in South Wales and he still plays for us whenever he can in fairness to him. He hasn’t played this year yet, but whenever he can he turns out for us, which is great.”

The hope at Llanelli, and further afield across Wales, is that Hoyt’s appearance at Wimbledon will act as an inspiration to all budding tennis players – and those who may yet to have picked up a racket.

Mr Westcott says: “He’s a great role model. He still takes time out to play with our budding players whenever he comes home. So it’s great for them to see him playing at Wimbledon.

“Seeing him do well certainly encourages children locally to take up the sport. I’ve grown up here and most children play rugby, and football as well these days with the local clubs doing well, but Evan playing Wimbledon is great for us.

“The more people we can get on court the more chance we’ve got of getting players to a high level like Evan has done.

“We’ve got squash and tennis sections, both are thriving and in their top divisions in south Wales and membership is on the up.

“We’re hoping that Evan’s success can lead to more youngsters coming here. We have a tennis coach, Adelheid, who is fantastic with the youngsters, so hopefully she will benefit even more with the publicity of Evan being at Wimbledon.”

Tennis Wales chief executive Simon Johnson said Hoyt’s appearance at Wimbledon would have an even wider benefit for tennis throughout the nation.

“Evan competing at Wimbledon will shine a superb spotlight on Welsh tennis and undoubtedly inspire others to get on court this summer,” he said.

“Evan’s a superb ambassador of the game and we wish him a successful tournament.”