Wheelchair Tennis
Wheelchair tennis is played on a standard tennis court and follows many of the same rules as able-bodied tennis. Wheelchair tennis is open to athletes with physical impairments.
The four following impairment groups are eligible for wheelchair tennis. Athletes must at least have an eligible impairment of the lower limbs.
Coordination Impairments
Athletes with a Coordination Impairment have one or more of the following three movement disorders that adversely affects the ability to voluntarily produce a full range of skilled movement fluidly, rapidly, and accurately:
- Hypertonia/Spasticity: an increase in muscle tension that may be velocity-dependent and/or a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch.
- Motor Ataxia: limited precision in direction and velocity of voluntary movement.
- Dyskinesia (Athetosis, Dystonia, Chorea): involuntary movements that interfere with voluntary movements.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions that can lead to coordination impairments include Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Impaired Muscle Power
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a reduced (or no) ability to contract their muscles to generate force that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system or the muscles.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired muscle power include: spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, and spina bifida.
Impaired Passive Range of Movement
Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a reduced ability for a joint to be passively moved that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting a structure of bones, joints, connective tissue, or soft tissues.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired passive range of motion include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
Limb Deficiency and/or Leg Length Difference
Athletes with Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference have a total or partial absence of a limb or anatomically irregular limb dimensions that are consistent with an Underlying Health Condition resulting from trauma (traumatic amputation), illness (example: amputation due to bone cancer), or congenital causes affecting the bones and/or joints (example: dysmelia).
This impairment group can be further divided into the following sub-categories:
- Limb deficiency
- Leg length difference
Entering The Pathway
USTA Sections, opens in a new tabNew wheelchair tennis athletes can get connected with one the the 17 USTA sections which are geography based and learn more about wheelchair tennis programs in your area.
Once connected with a program, the certified tennis professional within the program will work with athletes to find proper equipment including the right racquet and right type of chair to compete with.
Equipment
To begin competing in wheelchair tennis, athletes will need at minimum the following equipment:
- Tennis racquet
- Tennis shoes and clothes or athletic shoes and clothes
- Tennis balls
- Proper fitting, tennis-specific sport chair
Clubs and programs will be able to provide racquets and balls for beginners.
All-Comer Camps
All-Comer Camps, opens in a new tabUSTA All-Comer Camps are a series of national and regional camps aimed at spreading awareness, coaching, and providing instruction around wheelchair tennis.
Camps are open to athletes age 12 or older of any skill-level. Find a camp in your area and get started!
See below for more information about how to get classified for wheelchair tennis and the two classes in wheelchair tennis.
International Classification
Classification in Wheelchair Tennis, opens in a new tabUSTA does not offer national classification. Instead, the International Tennis Federation will host international classification at an ITF sanctioned events as necessary by demand.
The international classification process includes applying for and requesting classification, receiving your spot a week before competition, attending your classification evaluation, and competing to recieve your sport class.
For more information on the classification process through the ITF, visit the ITF website.
Open Division
Any athlete with an eligible impairment that meets the minimum impairment criteria will be eligible to compete in the open class.
Athletes in this class have an eligible impairment but do not meet the assessment criteria for the Quad Division. Athletes have a permanent physical impairment affecting one or both legs. Impairments include but are not limited to:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation(s)
The minimum impairment criteria for the open division includes a leg length difference of at least seven cm, a single amputation or the metatarsal heads, or an equivalent loss of function through impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of motion, or coordination impairments.
Quad Division
In addition to meeting the minimum impairment criteria for the open division, to be eligible for the quad division, athletes must also have a physical impairment that leads to substantial loss of function of at least one upper body limb.
Athletes in this class are allowed to use to adaptive equipment in competition if approved during their classification appointment such as strapping that mends a racquet to the athlete's hand.
Paralympic wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis with the following adjustments.
In wheelchair tennis, a player is allowed to let the ball bounce twice before hitting a return shot. However, they can still hit a return shot off the first bounce or no bounce if they choose.
An athlete loses a point if:
- The athlete fails to return the ball before it has touched the ground three times.
- The athlete uses any part of their feet or lower extremities as brakes or as stabilizers while delivering service, stroking a ball, turning or stopping against the ground or against any wheel while the ball is in play.
- The athlete fails to keep one buttock in contact with his wheelchair seat when contacting the ball.
US Wheelchair Tennis Programs
US Wheelchair Tennis Programs, opens in a new tabFind a US Wheelchair Tennis program near you and get connected!
Finding Competitions
Wheelchair Tennis Tournaments, opens in a new tabFind regional and national Wheelchair Tennis tournaments and begin competing!
ITA Collegiate Wheelchair Tennis
ITA Collegiate Wheelchair Tennis, opens in a new tabCollege athletes can get connected with a collegiate wheelchair tennis program and begin competing at the college level.