Wheelchair tennis is one of the fastest growing and most challenging of all wheelchair sports. To meet this demand, USA Tennis offers programs geared towards the wheelchair player. Rules are the same as stand-up tennis, except the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces of the ball.

Wheelchair tennis provides people with disabilities the opportunity to share in activities with their peers and family, whether able-bodied or disabled. Playing wheelchair tennis adds to socialization and the normalization of life after sustaining a disabling injury. Proficient wheelchair users can play and actively compete against stand-up players. A wheelchair tennis player must have a medically diagnosed, mobility-related disability, with a substantial or total loss of function in one or more extremeties.

In wheelchair tennis, the player must master the game and the wheelchair. Learning mobility on the court is exciting and challenging, and helps build strength and cardiovascular ability.

For more information, contact: Ronnie Goodall, Mid-Atlantic Section at Goodall@mas.usta.com

Inaugural ITA Collegiate Wheelchair Tennis Championships

Are a Major Success

Arizona Dominates Competition

For the first time, the 2008 ITA Collegiate Wheelchair Tennis Championships took place in conjunction with the ITA National Small College Championships, hosted by the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, AL, home to the world's largest public tennis facility. This inaugural event which included both singles and doubles took place Oct. 17-19, 2008, and featured several of the nation's top collegiate varsity wheelchair players.

The draw format included Tier I singles, Tier II singles, Women's Singles and Doubles with players from participating schools, Arizona, Grand Valley State and UT-Arlington representing their respective schools. Tournament Director Jeanie Peabody explains, "Looking to the future we hope to have more individual players representing their schools and universities. However, players can also participate individually without a whole team attending the event. Anyone can play, even if you are only taking one course."

The Arizona team, led by Coach Bryan Barten, took the tournament by storm, capturing the title in all four draws. In the opening round of doubles, the Wildcats completed a sweep, winning all four matches. In the final, a pair of teammates battled it out with Noah Yablong and Eric Daniels defeating Laurence Zalmanowitz and Jackie Cimino, 6-1, 6-1. 

The women's singles match featured a round robin format that included three Arizona players and one from Grand Valley State. In a bit of an upset, Arizona's Kirsten Everrit-Sharpe went undefeated while edging teammate and two-time defending Women's National Champion, Jackie Cimino, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3).

The Tier II division also featured a hotly-contested match between a couple of Arizona teammates in Jeff Odom and Eric Daniels. Coming in to the championships, Odom was seeded No. 1 and Daniels, No. 2. They did not disappoint, displaying an impressive run through the draw before Odom was able to stave off Daniels, 6-2, 603 to capture the title.

This inaugural event was extremely successful and a definite crowd-pleaser. Peabody expressed her  thoughts on just how successful the championship was. "Everyone involved with put putting together this event, including the coaches, players and the staff have been absolutely wonderful."

"One of the most necessary items for wheelchair tennis is transportation and this is something that is quite new for Scott Novak who has been managing tournaments here for years. He arranged for the Volunteers of America to provide three vans for the teams, which has worked out marvelously. We have been so impressed with community, the facility and the accessibility and would like to give a big thanks to Scott and everyone for helping make this event a success."

"The kids think that this event has been wonderful and have also really enjoyed watching the able-bodied players matches as well."