Wheelchair Tennis Rules
Classification
All the Paralympic sports are held amongst the athletes with a disability that is medically diagnosed, so is the case with wheelchair tennis. The athlete must be medically diagnosed with permanent impairment. For the sport, this impairment must be related to disability of mobility.
It is not necessary for the athletes to compete against the athletes with the same class of impairment. In fact, for the athlete to participate in the men’s and women’s 'open' competitions the impairment must affect up to two limbs. To compete in quad divisions the impairment must affect three or more than three limbs in the athlete.
Eligibility
Only those players who have marked their attendance at the event and have been signed by their captain at the Captains' Meeting are eligible to play. Any player who is not medically fit will not be allowed to be the part of the team. In the event of any doubt, the referee may request the player to present a certificate that he/she is fit medically as well as physically to compete.
Open Competition / No Discrimination
UNIQLO Wheelchair tennis tournaments are open to all wheelchair tennis players without any discrimination.
Composition Of Matches
Each match shall comprise of two singles and one doubles and shall be played on the same court until specified by some in any special circumstance.
Substitutions
In the event of that the player is unable to play the match due to injury, illness or bereavement the same must be notified to the referee and a substitution must be made by the captain from the final nominated team.
Rules Of Play
Following are the rules of play:-
Two bounce Rule- A wheelchair tennis player is allowed with two bounces of the ball but the player must return the ball before it bounces thrice.
The Wheelchair- It is considered to be the part of the body and all the applicable rules that apply to the player’s body shall apply to the wheelchair as wello.
The Service
It shall be made in the following manner:-
- The server must be in the stationery position before commencing the service. He/She shall then be permitted one push before hitting the ball.
- The server shall not touch any part of the wheel throughout the delivery of the service.
- If the standard methods for the service are physically impossible for a quad player, then the player or someone else may release the ball for him/her and allow it to bounce before it is hit. If this is the case, the same method of serving must be used for the whole match.
