News
International Wheelchair Event Bound for Adelaide
Adelaide’s festival of tennis in January just got bigger. Today it was announced by Minister Michael Wright that an International Wheelchair event will join thirteen other events as part of the WTC Be Active Challenge in January. In 2009 the WTC Be Active Challenge formed the participation arm of the inaugural World Tennis Challenge. Combined the event attracted close to 3000 interstate / international visitors and 2160 participants.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) sanctioned event is another boost to an event growing in popularity:
“The ITF Wheelchair event will bring some of the best wheelchair players from around the world and will provide the successful local program run by Tennis SA with a great opportunity to increase participation: said Minister Michael Wright.
The ITF Wheelchair event is part of the Australian Summer Series for Wheelchair Tennis. Players for the first time will have the opportunity to travel to Queensland, Adelaide, Melbourne (Aust Wheelchair Tennis Open) and Sydney.
The WTC Wheelchair Championships will be played at Memorial Drive from Tuesday January 12 – 15. The event is the 14th event in this festival of tennis and Mark Woodforde believes the WTC players will be thrilled that the ITF event has been added to the calendar:
“We have been talking about this opportunity for over twelve months and we are thrilled that is now a reality. I think the WTC players will love the interaction of having some of the best wheelchair athletes in the world compete alongside at Memorial Drive.
South Australia’s very own Henry de Cure who is representing Australia in the juniors for the 2nd time in a row at the Invacare World Team Cup in Nottingham(equivalent to Davis Cup for wheel chair tennis players) will have the opportunity to play in a major tournament in his own back yard:
"Great news thatSA nowhas a tournament - we've never had one before. It'll get more people interested in wheelchair tennis. I am Very happy and excited to have anInternational tournament in Adelaide and can not wait to play in it.”
Wheelchair Tennis is played at every Grand Slam (AO, US Open, French & Wimbledon) and now it will be linked to our International Tournament - World Tennis Challenge. At least 30 players from around the world will come to Adelaide for the event with organisers tipping this number to grow with the new Australian series being organised by Tennis Australia.
