Wheelchair Tennis

How to PLAY Wheelchair Tennis

Wheelchair Tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis. The only difference is Wheelchair Tennis players are allowed two bounces of the ball; provided the first bounce occurs within the bounds of the court.

The events are singles (between two players) and doubles (between two pairs). The winner of a match is determined by the first to win two sets.

Who can play Wheelchair Tennis

Impairment Type

To be eligible to compete, a player must have a medically diagnosed, permanent, mobility-related physical disability which must result in a substantial loss of function in one or both lower extremities.

Classification

Each Wheelchair Tennis player is classified based on their functional ability. There are two class divisions, “Open” and “Quad”. 

Open Division:  Players have a permanent, substantial or total loss of function in one or both legs. They do not however have impaired upper body function.   
Players with:
•    Spinal cord injury at the S1 level or above, associated with loss of movement;
•    Joint fusion and/or joint replacement of the hip, knee or upper ankle joints,
•    Amputation of any part of the leg above the metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot
•    A player with a disability in one or both legs equivalent to the above

Quad Division:  Players with a permanent physical disability that results in a substantial loss of movement in one or both of their legs along with one or both of their arms. 
Players in the quad class must meet one of the following minimum eligibility criteria:
•    A spinal cord injury at the C8 level or above, with associated loss of movement
•    Arm amputation, or dysmelia;
•    Arm myopathy or muscular dystrophy, or;
•    A player with functional disabilities in one or both upper extremities equivalent to the above

How Do I Get Classified?

To determine a player’s class, a panel of approved classifiers will observe the player’s movements during practice, warm-up, play and/or at any time during the tournament. These observations by the classifiers may be supplemented by a review of the player's medical history and by a physical examination of the player. 

Where can you participate?

AUSTRALIA

STATE / TERRITORIES

Resources