All about wheelchair tennis


Fast, exciting, breathtakingly skilful, totally professional...

All these words describe wheelchair tennis, which celebrated its 33rd Anniversary in 2009 as an organised sport. Since its inception in the United States in 1976 it has become one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world.

It is estimated that over 6,000 people now play the sport in more than 70 countries worldwide. It has been a Paralympic sport since 1992, the same year in which an international wheelchair tennis tour was conceived that now boasts 150  tournaments around the world.

 

ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour 2010

The TF works in partnership with the National Wheelchair Tennis Association to deliver a full programme of activities including camps for beginners, juniors and ladies, intermediate training for developing players and national training for the performance players.

In addition, a full range of tournaments provides competitive playing opportunities at local, national and international level.

At the moment the GB and World Quad Number 1 is Peter Norfolk, take a look at an article in ACE Magazine on him here, click on the image below 

ACE Magazine Peter Norfolk Article

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are an increasing number of localised opportunities, such as one-day clinics and demonstrations, to introduce more players to wheelchair tennis. There are also taster days at multi-disability and multi-sport events usually organised by national disability sports organisations, such as WheelPower.

How did you start?

"My dad is a player. We both have brittle bones. I started hitting some balls with him when he was at a tournament in Israel when I was two-years-old. The tournament gave me an award for being the youngest player they had ever seen. Now I want to become world No 1."

Jordanne Whiley
who became Britain's youngest Women's Singles National Champion, aged 15, in 2007 and is a three-time Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters Champion and the world No 1 ranked Junior

*

 

Did you know?

The 2010 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour features 157 tournaments in 41 countries.  The British Open is one of five Super Series events, the highest tier of tournament behind the Grand Slams.

"To play at a Grand Slam is such a tremendous honour. To have the big arena and people shouting your name, gives such an adrenalin rush."

Peter Norfolk, OBE
Reigning Australian Open, US Open and Paralympic quad singles champion

*

"I was always a keen tennis player and after contracting transverse myeliitis just before my 13th birthday I found a wheechair tennis group in Glasgow"

Gordon Reid
Former world No 1 ranked junior and Britain's youngest Men's Singles National Champion, aged 15, in 2007

*