Lea Van Der Zwalmen Retires as Ladies Rackets World Champion
In a heartfelt letter penned to the Rackets community, Lea Van Der Zwalmen confirms that she will not be defending her World Champion title at the next Singles Challenge.
A letter from Lea Van Der Zwalmen:
After more than a decade holding the Ladies’ Singles World Championship title, the time has come for me to step aside and allow the next player to write her name on the board. I therefore confirm that I will not be defending my title at the next Singles Challenge.
When I first picked up a Rackets racquet in October 2013, there were perhaps a dozen women playing in the country. Ladies’ Rackets was still in its infancy. Over the past decade, the game has grown beyond anything we could have imagined; thanks to the commitment of the T&RA, the dedication of the UK professionals, and the steady emergence of opportunities to compete. Mixed doubles tournaments multiplied, school and Open tournament participation strengthened, a proper ranking system was established and regular World Championships in Singles and Doubles became a reality.
I am proud to have been part of that pioneering generation who helped push the women’s game forward. Today, the Queen’s Club Ladies’ Rackets community alone counts more than 150 players, a powerful marker of how far we’ve come.
My gratitude is immense. To Clifton College, and to the people there who changed my life in ways I could never fully repay. And above all to my Rackets coach, Reggie Williams, who introduced me to this extraordinary game. I have worked with many coaches across my sporting life, but Rackets led me to something rarer: a coach who builds the player and the person, who raises standards relentlessly, and who teaches that progress comes from discipline, not shortcuts.
Following my Clifton years (2013–2015), I was incredibly fortunate to receive the support of the Queen’s Club Foundation, which enabled me to train and compete across the country under the best possible conditions. Queen’s Club, with its staff, members, and amazing facilities, has become a second home. It will always hold a very special place in my heart.
Rackets has been one of the greatest educations of my life. It taught me how to win, how to lose, how to endure, and how to keep moving forward. Competitive sport prepares you for life in ways nothing else quite can. And while the only way has always been up, now feels like the right moment to seek new lessons beyond competition. Letting go, however, does not mean stepping away. I care deeply about the future of the women’s game and will remain involved, particularly through ladies’ clinics.
Above all, this is a thank-you. To those who have lifted the women’s game. To those who supported me when it mattered most. And to the Rackets professionals in schools and clubs around the world, the true guardians of this wonderful sport, who pass on its traditions, standards, and spirit every single day.
To my own professional, Reggie: thank you for believing in me, for demanding the best of me, and for shaping my journey more than words can express. I will carry your lessons with me always.
And finally, a wish for the next generation of women players to continue pushing the game to higher standards. Play boldly. Honour the tradition. And keep writing the next chapters of this extraordinary story.
With love and limitless gratitude,
Lea Van Der Zwalmen
