25 Years of Wheelchair Tennis

“To paraphrase Michael Jordan, it is not the fact that you fall down that is important, but whether you get back up.” Emotive words from wheelchair tennis legend Randy Snow. “Getting back up” is perhaps the most gut-wrenching thing a person with a disability can do. It takes character. For some, “getting back up” involves an intellectual activity but for others it is sport. Since it was founded in 1976, wheelchair tennis has become the fastest growing disability sport. But more than an activity, wheelchair tennis gives people the chance to regain self-belief, to push the limits and, perhaps most importantly, to smile again. From its humble beginnings as a leisure activity, wheelchair tennis is now conducted on a professional basis with its own tournament circuit, ranking system and prize money. Yet 25 years ago, the sport barely existed. 

Commonly considered the founder of wheelchair tennis, Brad Parks was injured when he was 18 and had to be in a wheelchair. He began to find out about the sports that he could play. The Californian recalls, “Shortly after I started playing I met a guy who was building sports wheelchairs and playing wheelchair tennis named Jeff Minnenbraker. He was playing with two bounces on his side of the court. I tried it and it made sense.”

Parks also realized that Minnenbraker’s wheelchair was lighter and more mobile than his heavy hospital version. The extra lightness and different frame made the sport easier to play and also meant that more athletes with higher-level injuries could participate. Over the years, the evolution of the wheelchair has transformed the game. Many players adopted baseline games at the beginning, but the introduction of a lighter wheelchair with one small front wheel has encouraged more attacking and faster play. Parks and Minnenbraker actively promoted the sport. They also decided that the two-bounce rule should remain and that the court dimensions should be the same as a standard able-bodied tennis court.

In 1988, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) adopted the two-bounce rule in the official Rules of Tennis, sanctioning the new sport. Recognizing the widening appeal of wheelchair tennis, Parks founded the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation (IWTF). This was a huge leap forward—it gave the sport an international focus and allowed many countries to develop and organize the game.

In 1991, wheelchair tennis reached another watershed with the entrance of former world number 2 Ellen de Lange, who was appointed Executive Secretary to the IWTF and was based at the ITF. Newly-appointed ITF President at the time, Brian Tobin, calls de Lange’s appointment “the catalyst which set the sport on an exciting course of expansion—from the grassroots level to the top (now professional) echelons of the game.” He adds, “Having been a highly ranked player in women’s wheelchair tennis, Ellen knew what the game needed to grow and possessed the qualities that made others—players, coaches etc. want to help and support her.” 

A further boost came when NEC provided a grant from its Social Contributions Programs. With most of the funds being used to develop the game by sponsoring clinics in countries new to wheelchair tennis, sponsorship enabled many more people to enjoy the sport. NEC’s support also prompted a formalized tournament system with all the major events opting to join the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour. When the IWTF took over the ranking system, the ranking became known as the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Ranking.

Another milestone was achieved when wheelchair tennis became a full medal sport at the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona. Capacity crowds watched 48 players from 15 different countries competing. One of the best matches featured eventual gold medallist Snow playing Abde Naili in a gripping semi-final, enjoyed by a crowd of over 6,000. 

Wheelchair tennis received further recognition when it was integrated into the ITF from January 1998, becoming the first disability sport to do so. The ITF encourages its member nations to include wheelchair tennis in their national federation’s program. ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti says, “The aim of the ITF is to make our 198 National Associations realize that wheelchair tennis is an important part of the sport. We will do everything possible to allow them to achieve this goal.” Another historic decision was taken in 1998, when the ITF’s AGM allowed wheelchair tennis players to compete using two bounces, both in wheelchair tournaments and able-bodied events.

In 2000, the highlight was the Sydney Paralympic Tennis Event. Ten thousand fans watched home hero David Hall outplay Steven Welch in the men’s final, which unfolded into the most thrilling showdown of the tournament. But there is still more to be done. Over to Snow: “People need to see it. The players are here, the personalities are available, so it’s packaged and ready to go.” However dramatic the action may be on court, wheelchair tennis remains relatively unnoticed by the media.

While some believe that it will take a long time for tennis athletes to be watched for their performances alone—rather than because of their disabilities—others disagree. The Paralympic Tennis Event was an amazing sports extravaganza, highlighting the enormous marketing potential of the game, but unfortunately this spotlight is only there once every four years. But as De Lange says, “Our task now is to channel the amazing energy created by the Paralympics so that wheelchair tennis can benefit from the incredible success of Sydney.”

Wendy Kewley
Wheelchair Tennis Assistant, International Tennis Federation (ITF)