Wheelchair Tennis
by J. Robbins
Did you know that you can play tennis from a wheelchair? Wheelchair tennis is a sport for athletes with disabilities in their lower bodies. According to Betty Kinkade, it was created in 1976 by Brad Parks (52). Paul Di Toro states that many of the rules are the same for both ordinary tennis and wheelchair tennis (108).
Wheelchair tennis competitions are divided into three groups: men, ladies, and quads (Mavis 47). The quad group is for players with impairment in three or more limbs. There are singles and doubles tournaments in each group.
Regular wheelchairs are not the best choice for playing this game. Tennis wheelchairs, on the other hand, are light and easy to move. They have a small wheel in the back to help players maintain their balance during serves. The larger side wheels are angled outward 60 degrees, which helps players quickly change direction (Andreevich 203). Quad players are allowed to use electric wheelchairs. They can also tape their rackets to their hands.
This exciting sport has many superstars. For example, Esther Vergeer is one of the best athletes in professional sports. Johnson's article "Esther Vergeer: Champion of Champions" states that she began playing wheelchair tennis after being paralyzed at the age of eight. As a professional athlete, she has won 96 percent of her singles matches and earned 10 consecutive world titles (Smith 36). Vergeer and her fellow wheelchair tennis players are proof that hard work and dedication can overcome any obstacle.
Works Cited
Andreevich, Pyotr. Modern Wheelchairs and Their Functions. Austin: Tesla Press,
2011. Print.
Di Toro, Paul. Handbook for Playing Wheelchair Tennis. New York City: Sports
Plus Publishing, 2008. Print.
Johnson, Reynauldo. "Esther Vergeer: Champion of Champions." Sports
Encyclopedia 15.3 (2011): n. pag. Web. 4 January 2012.
Kinkade, Betty. Spokes and Dreams: The History of Wheelchair Sports. New York
City: Bromeliad Press, 2011. Print.
Mavis, Pauline. Professional Wheelchair Sports. New York City: Sports Plus
Publishing, 2010. Print.
Smith, Lee. Sports Heroes from Around the World. New York City: Sports Plus
Publishing, 2012. Print.
3
The author includes details from Modern Wheelchairs and Their Functions in the third paragraph to support the idea that
A.
tennis wheelchairs have been adapted to players' unique needs.
B.
modified tennis wheelchairs provide players with unfair advantages.
C.
only quad players are allowed additional wheels on their wheelchairs.
D.
all wheelchair tennis players should use electric wheelchairs.