Competitions & eligibility
- 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.
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 why not take part in your local park or club league?
Or if you want to compete around the country then take a look at these national events;
National Competitions
Calendar 2010
• North West Challenge, Preston - 26th - 28th Feb 2010 Results
• North East Challenge, Sunderland - 18th - 21st Mar 2010 Results
• Taunton Wheelchair Tennis Tournament - 10th - 11th Apr 2010 Results
• The JM Glendinning Group Ilkley Wheelchair Tennis Tournament - Results
• National Wheelchair Championships, Gloucester - 28th - 31st May 2010 Results
• The Welti Summer Open, Welti Tennis Centre, Shrewsbury -20th June Entry Form
• Sheffield Open -10th Jul 2010 Entry Form
• British Open, Nottingham - 20th - 25th Jul 2010 Entry Form
• The Belfast Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament – 17th - 19th Sep 2010 Entry Form
• Esporta Cardiff Wheelchair Tennis Tournament – 15th - 17th Oct 2010
• Nottingham Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament – 28th - 31st Oct 2010
• The Welti Winter Open, Welti Tennis Centre, Shrewsbury - 21st Nov 2010
Results 2009
• North West Challenge, Preston - Results
• North East Challenge, Sunderland - Results
• Taunton Wheelchair Tennis Tournament - Results
• National Wheelchair Championships - Singles Results, Consolation Singles Results, Doubles Results.
• Shrewsbury Open, Welti Tennis Centre, Shrewsbury -Results
• Sheffield Open -Results
• British Open, Nottingham - Results
• The Belfast Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament – Results
• Esporta Cardiff Wheelchair Tennis Tournament – Results
• Nottingham Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament – Results
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).
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 150 tournaments from Grand Slam and Super Series events through to ITF 1, ITF 2, ITF 3 and Futures Series events.
Paralympics
The parallel Olympics for elite athletes with a disability. Wheelchair tennis has been a Paralympic Sport since 1992.
For more information about wheelchair tennis at the Paralympics, visit www.itftennis.com/paralympics
For more information on London 2012 visit London2012.com
Annual Events
- Invacare World Team Cup - Davis and Fed Cups of Wheelchair Tennis. In 2010 the World Team Cup will take place in Turkey in May.
- NEC Masters/Doubles Masters - Open to the World Ranked 8 Men and Women and World Ranked 4 Quads
- Wimbledon Wheelchair Doubles - Grand Slam
- 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