Created in 1976 in California, wheelchair tennis is one of the fastest growing and most challenging of all wheelchair sports. Since 1979, the sport has been promoted in the United States by the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis. The Wheelchair Tennis Players Association formed in 1981 under the auspices of the NFWT, allowed players to take an active role in the governance of the sport. January 1998 marked the merger of the WTPA into the USTA structure. Since then, the USTA has actively managed wheelchair tennis activities in the U.S.A.
In wheelchair tennis, the player must master the game of tennis as well as the wheelchair. Learning mobility on the court is exiting and challenging and helps build strength and cardiovascular ability. Wheelchair tennis provides persons with disability the opportunity to share in activities with their peers and family, whether ablebodied or disabled. A wheelchair player who plays against an ablebodied person in singles or doubles is allowed two bounces of the ball while the able-bodied player is allowed one bounce. Playing wheelchair tennis adds to socialization and the normalization of life after sustaining a disabling injury.
Chair players have the opportunity to participate in able-bodied tournaments and leagues. To participate in USTA League Tennis, a chair player simply needs to locate and join or start a team.
Click here to learn more about wheelchair tennis.
Click here to download the rules for wheelchair tennis.
Click here to purchase The Wheelchair Tennis Manual and DVD.
To find out more about wheelchair tennis, or how chair players can participate in able-bodied tennis, please contact
Patricia Chien
at the USTA Intermountain Section or your district office:
Colorado -
Kristy Harris
, 303-695-4116, 300
Idaho -
Matthew Warren
, 208-322-5150
Montana -
MC Beeby
, 406-431-3152
Nevada -
Dann Battistone
, 702-792-8384
Utah -
Linda Vincent
, 801-268-0505
Wyoming –
Dave Boon,
307-234-8139
More Wheelchair Tennis Information
USTA Intermountain Wheelchair Tennis Instructor’s Clinic, Camp,
and One-up One-down Tournament
The USTA Intermountain Section, in conjunction with USTA Colorado and the Colorado Wheelchair Tennis Foundation hosted a Wheelchair Tennis Instructor’s Clinic, a Wheelchair Tennis Camp, and One-up One-down Tournament with Frank Adams, Rich Berman & Dan James at the Ken-Caryl Ranch House in Littleton, CO the weekend of August 21, 2009. Fourteen Instructors and fifteen campers braved the record breaking heat.
| One-up One-down Champions and Finalists. |
