Ilkley's Ross Connolly is in the Main Draw at the Ilkley Open Tennis Tournament which starts at the weekend.

Ross, 21, from Ilkley returns to the club's open tournament going into the main draw of the British Tour men's singles event.

Ross played at Ilkley from an early age and was coached by Simon Ickringill as a junior up until he left for the Nick Bollitieri Tennis Academy in Florida at the age of 18.

Maria Sharapova, winner of the ladies' singles title at Wimbledon, is the most recent top success from the Bollitieri Academy which has produced many top players, Andre Aggasi being the most well-known.

Ross is in his first year on the senior tour and is playing futures and challenger tournaments around the world.

Ross won the Ilkley club championships men's singles and 18 and Under title in the year before he left and also won the County Singles Championship in the 18 and under category.

His past efforts at the Ilkley open saw him get to the finals of the under 16 and under 18 events. He will be hoping to go one further this year.