Wheelchair Tennis

Wheelchair tennis is played on a standard tennis court and follows most of the same rules as regular tennis. Here are the basic steps for playing wheelchair tennis:

  1. Equipment: To play wheelchair tennis, you will need a tennis wheelchair that is specifically designed for tennis. These chairs have two large rear wheels and one or two smaller front wheels, which allow for greater mobility on the court. You will also need a tennis racket and tennis balls.
  2. Serving: The server must keep at least one wheel in contact with the ground when serving, and the serve must land in the service box diagonally opposite. If the serve hits the net and lands in the correct service box, it is called a let and the serve is replayed.
  3. Scoring: The scoring system in wheelchair tennis is the same as in regular tennis, with points awarded as follows: love (0), 15, 30, 40, and game. If the game is tied at 40-40, it is called deuce, and the player who wins the next point gets the advantage. If that player wins the next point, they win the game; if they lose the point, the score goes back to deuce.
  4. Wheelchair movement: In wheelchair tennis, players are allowed to touch the ball twice, as long as they hit it before the second bounce. Players must also keep at least one wheel in contact with the ground at all times when hitting the ball. If a player lifts both wheels off the ground when hitting the ball, it is considered a fault.
  5. Court movement: Players are allowed two bounces of the ball before they must hit it back to their opponent. The first bounce can be either inside or outside the court boundaries, but the second bounce must be inside the court boundaries.
  6. Return of serve: The player receiving the serve must be stationary before the serve is made. Once the serve is made, the receiver can move freely on the court.
  7. Other rules: There are other rules that apply to wheelchair tennis, such as the fact that players cannot touch the net with their racket or any part of their body. Players are also not allowed to receive coaching during the match, and if a player receives medical attention during the match, they are allowed a maximum of 10 minutes off the court.

These are some of the basic rules and guidelines for playing wheelchair tennis. As with any sport, it is important to practice and develop your skills over time in order to improve your game.