ITF announces singles entries for Rio 2016

The International Tennis Federation published the full list of wheelchair tennis entries for September’s Paralympic Games. 24 Jun 2016
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Stephane Houdet

France's Stephane Houdet won silver in singles at London 2012 Paralympic Games.

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By International Tennis Federation

The full list of wheelchair tennis entries for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games has been announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The men’s singles event will feature 52 players, the women’s 32 and the quads’ 16.

The doubles teams will be confirmed in July, including players that are already contesting in the singles events.

The entries are a combination of direct acceptances based on the ITF wheelchair tennis world rankings and Bipartite Commission Invitation places awarded by the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Four Doubles World Ranking Allocation places have been awarded in the men’s doubles to ensure the strongest possible competition, with these players also receiving an entry into the singles. The men’s and women’s winners of the 2014 Asian Para Games and the 2015 Parapan American Games have also received a direct entry.

France’s World No.1 Stephane Houdet will start as favourite for gold in the men’s wheelchair tennis event, but will face hard opposition from Japan’s two-time Paralympic gold medallist Shingo Kunieda, Great Britain’s Australian Open champion Gordon Reid and Argentina’s Roland Garros champion Gustavo Fernandez.

Following the retirement of Netherlands’ four-time Paralympic singles gold medallist Esther Vergeer, a new women singles champion is guaranteed. The strongest candidates to claim the vacant throne are compatriots World No.1 Jiske Griffioen and Roland Garros champion Marjolein Buis, and Great Britain’s US Open champion Jordanne Whiley.

Australia’s World No. 1 Dylan Alcott will head the entries in the quads’ singles event. But USA will be hopeful three-time Paralympic medallist David Wagner or London 2012 bronze medallist Nick Taylor can also top the podium.

“Following the most successful Paralympic tennis event in history at London 2012, I am confident that this year’s event will be an equally memorable competition,” said ITF President David Haggerty.

“Wheelchair tennis has become one of the most popular Paralympic sports thanks to its outstanding athletes and great personalities, and we are looking forward to a great atmosphere and some fierce competition.”

The tennis Paralympic event will be played on hard court and will take place at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Barra Olympic Park between 9 and 16 September.

To check the full list of singles entries, visit the ITF website.

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs).

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.