Netizen Journalist

Competing at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Here's the History of Wheelchair Tennis

Holiday Ayo - After the 2024 Paris Olympics, the biggest sporting event in the world continues with the world sports event for people with disabilities or the 2024 Paralympics which is also located in Paris. 

Getting to know its history, this sport began to exist in 1976. The originator is former American skier Brad Parks. 

 

He was paralyzed after an accident while freestyle skiing. Brad and fellow paraplegic patient Jeff Minnebraker decided to try tennis in a wheelchair as part of their rehabilitation. 

 

Brad and Jeff then developed the sport together. Initially, their efforts were doubtful but gradually they attracted the interest of other people with disabilities. 

 

They then held a small tournament which then expanded to several cities. The sport then expanded internationally in the 1980s when France became the first country in Europe to establish a dedicated wheelchair tennis program. 

 

This sport was then first competed at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics. The rules of the game are clearly slightly different from conventional tennis even though there are no modifications to the size of the court, rackets or tennis balls. 

 

The main differences are the specially designed wheelchairs and the two-bounce rule. The ball can bounce a maximum of two times before being hit by the opponent. 

 

At the professional level, there are three categories that are contested, namely men, women and quad and each number has singles and doubles tournaments. 

 

Like conventional tennis, wheelchair tennis also has grand slam events, namely the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open.

Related Post

Leave a comment