Competitions & Eligibility- Wheelchair tennis

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  • The only rule change from the conventional game is that the ball is allowed to bounce twice, first bounce must be inside the confines of the court the second can be taken outside.
  • Wheelchair Tennis is played on a full size tennis court, using a full height net and full size rackets and tennis balls.
  • The Rules of Tennis apply.
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Wheelchair players can integrate with able-bodied friends/clubs by enjoying "one up & one down" tournaments/ matches. If playing in an able-bodied competition or against able-bodied family/friends, able-bodied players have one bounce and wheelchair players have two bounces. Take a look at the ITF Rules.

 

Competitions

How about joining a mini tennis league if you are a junior wheelchair player? If you are an adult take part in your local park or clubs leagues?

Or if you want to compete around the country then take a look at these national events;

National Competitions

Entry Forms and Results 2008

  • North West Challenge, Preston- Results
  • North East Challenge, Sunderland - Results
  • National Wheelchair Championships - Results
  • British Open, Nottingham - Results
  • The Belfast Open 2008 Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Entry form
  • Esporta Cardiff Wheelchair tennis Tournament - Entry form
  • Nottingham Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament - entry form is not yet available

If you are interested in organising a local, friendly, national or international wheelchair tennis tournament, please contact the TF to apply for sanctioning by the National Wheelchair Tennis Association (NWTA).

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If you are interested in upgrading your national event to a tournament that is part of the NEC Tour sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), you need to apply to the National Wheelchair Tennis Association (NWTA - the National Federation in GB through the Tennis Foundation to sanction your application to the ITF. The ITF, with the support of NEC, has established a tour of over 120 tournaments from Super Series events through to Masters Series, ITF 1, ITF 2, ITF 3 and Future Series events.

Paralympics

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The parallel Olympics for elite athletes with a disability. Wheelchair tennis has been a Paralympic Sport since 1992.

Annual Events

  • Invacare World Team Cup - Davis and Fed Cups of Wheelchair Tennis
  • NEC Masters/Doubles Masters - Open to the World Ranked 8 Men and Women and World Ranked 4 Quads
  • British Open - ITF Super Series
  • Nottingham Indoor - ITF 2 Series
  • North East Tournament - ITF 3 Series
  • Cardiff Tournament - ITF Futures Series
  • North West Challenge - ITF Futures Series
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Did You Know?

Wheelchair Tennis is now played at all four Grand Slams.

Britain's Jayant Mistry partnered Frenchman Michael Jeremiasz to win the first Men's Wheelchair Doubles at The Championships, Wimbledon in 2005

How did you start?

"I've always been very sporty and used to play county standard badminton. After being paralysed in a motorcycle accident I discovered wheelchair tennis at a local tennis centre. A few short years later the sport has taken me all over the world and I have played at two Grand Slams."

Lucy Shuker
British Women's No 1 and World No 10
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"I was in rehabillitation in a spinal unit just three years ago when wheelchair tennis was introduced to me during a roadshow that went to all the spinal units around the country. I fell in love with the sport and ended 2007 by winning my first international title in Israel."

Marc McCarroll
NWTA Best Newcomer 2006
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