HELENSBURGH wheelchair tennis hero Gordon Reid is limbering up to help lead the Great Britain team at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Turkey next week.

The former Hermitage Academy pupil is one of 15 British players named in the team for the International Tennis Federation’s flagship wheelchair tennis event, which is the wheelchair equivalent of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

Reid and his long-time doubles partner Alfie Hewett are among four Great Britain players set to take part in the men’s event, alongside Ben Bartram and Dahnon Ward, under captain Rob Cross.

Great Britain’s long history of success in the World Team Cup included a first in 2023, when the men’s and junior teams lifted titles in the same year for the first time as both were crowned World Team Cup champions for the third time.

Speaking ahead of the event, Erik Koers, head of the LTA’s Wheelchair Performance Pathway, said, “We’re delighted to be able to announce our strongest Lexus GB World Team Cup team for this year’s World Team Cup and to be one of just four wheelchair tennis nations competing in all four men’s, women’s, quad and junior events.

“After both our men’s and junior teams victories in Portugal last year we are confident that all four GB teams can be in medal contention in Turkey as we continue to build towards the Paris 2024 Paralympics and beyond, and look to inspire more young people to take up our wonderful sport and aspire to join our wheelchair performance pathway.”

The women’s event will feature four more British players, Lucy Shuker, Abbie Breakwell, Cornelia Oosthuizen and Ruby Bishop, while Andy Lapthorne, Greg Slade and Gary Cox will compete in the quad event.

There are also four Brits lined up for the junior event in the shape of Ruben Harris, Lucas John de Gouveia, Oliver Cox and Will Barton.

The tournament takes place in Antalya between Tuesday, May 7 and Sunday, May 12.

Reid has also been confirmed for this year’s Lexus British Open in Roehampton, taking place between June 30 and July 5 and set to form a key part of the preparations for Wimbledon.

The 32-year-old recently came agonisingly close to winning his first ITF1 Series singles title since 2018, but lost in three sets in the final of the Allianz Paris Trophy in Munich, with Spain’s Martin de la Puente edging to a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) victory.