Wheelchair tennis paralympics

Six events are contested in Paralympic tennis. The sport debuted as a demonstration event at the 1988 Paralympics with only men's and women's singles competitions. Four years later, men's and women's doubles were added when the sport became an official Paralympic event. In 2004, two new events for athletes with quadriplegia (also known as "quad" events) were introduced. Unlike the other events, the quad events are mixed-gender. Up until the 2020 Games, only two women, Monique de Beer from the Netherlands and Sarah Hunter from Canada, competed in the quad events, both participating in 2004 and 2008. Monique de Beer remains the only woman to have won a medal in the quad events at the Paralympics, earning a bronze in the doubles event in 2004.

Current Events:

• Men's singles
• Men's doubles
• Women's singles
• Women's doubles
• Quad singles
• Quad doubles

In wheelchair tennis, players are classified based on their functional abilities to ensure fair competition. The classification system is designed to group athletes with similar levels of impairment, allowing them to compete on an even playing field. There are two primary classifications in wheelchair tennis: Open and Quad.

Classification Categories:

1. Open Division:

   • Eligibility Criteria: Players in the Open Division have permanent physical disabilities that result in substantial loss of function in one or both legs but have normal or almost normal arm function. These disabilities could include conditions such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, or congenital conditions affecting the lower limbs.
   • Impairment Requirement: To qualify for the Open Division, players must have a permanent impairment that significantly affects their ability to play standing tennis. This typically involves a loss of function in one or both legs, but the athletes must have full use of their arms.

2. Quad Division:

   • Eligibility Criteria: The Quad Division (sometimes referred to as the “Quadriplegic” division) is for players who have impairments that affect at least three limbs. This often includes players with significant impairment in both the upper and lower limbs, such as limited strength, control, or coordination in both hands and arms, in addition to impairments in their legs.
   • Impairment Requirement: To compete in the Quad Division, players must have a combination of impairments that affect their playing ability in both their upper and lower bodies. This could result from conditions like cervical spinal cord injuries, multiple limb amputations, or neuromuscular disorders.
   • Mixed-Gender: The Quad Division is unique because it is a mixed-gender category, allowing both men and women to compete together in singles and doubles events.

Classification Process:

1. Medical Assessment:

   • Athletes are assessed by a panel of classifiers, which usually includes a medical professional (like a doctor or physiotherapist) and a technical expert (such as a coach or sport scientist). They review the athlete’s medical history, conduct a physical examination, and evaluate the athlete's functional abilities related to playing tennis.

2. Functional Assessment:

   • The classification process includes on-court observation during both practice and competition. This helps classifiers understand how an athlete's impairment affects their ability to move and play. The goal is to ensure that athletes are placed in the correct classification based on their functional ability.

3. Sport Class Status:

   • After assessment, an athlete is given a “sport class status,” which can be:
     • Confirmed (C): The classification is unlikely to change in the future.
     • Review (R): The classification may change, and the athlete will be reviewed at a later date (often for younger athletes or those with progressive conditions).
     • New (N): The athlete is new to classification and needs further assessment.

Purpose of Classification:

The classification system in wheelchair tennis is designed to ensure fair competition by grouping players based on their functional ability, not just their medical diagnosis. This helps create a level playing field and ensures that the outcome of competitions is determined by skill, strategy, and athletic performance rather than the degree of impairment.

Eligibility for wheelchair tennis is determined based on specific criteria related to the type and extent of physical impairments. The goal is to ensure that only athletes with a significant and permanent impairment that affects their ability to play tennis in a standing position are eligible. Here’s a breakdown of how eligibility is determined:

Steps to Determine Eligibility:

1. Type of Impairment:

   • The athlete must have a physical impairment that falls into one of the following categories:
     • Spinal cord injury: Resulting in partial or complete loss of function in the legs (and possibly arms).
     • Amputation: The absence of one or both legs, or partial foot amputations that significantly impact mobility.
     • Neurological conditions: Such as cerebral palsy or stroke, which affect muscle control, coordination, and strength in the lower limbs.
     • Orthopedic impairments: Conditions like severe arthritis, joint contractures, or hip dislocations that impair movement.
     • Other impairments: Permanent conditions such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, or multiple sclerosis that lead to a functional loss in the lower limbs.

2. Minimum Impairment Criteria:

   • Functional Limitation: Athletes must demonstrate a significant impairment that impacts their ability to play tennis while standing. This includes but is not limited to, difficulty walking or running, loss of strength or coordination in the legs, or reduced range of motion.
   • Medical Diagnosis: Athletes must have a permanent and verifiable diagnosis of a condition that leads to physical impairment. This diagnosis must be provided by a qualified medical professional and meet the International Tennis Federation (ITF) minimum impairment criteria.

3. Classification Assessment:

   • Athletes undergo a formal classification assessment, which involves both medical and functional evaluations:
     • Medical Assessment: Conducted by a certified classifier who reviews the athlete's medical history and assesses the type and severity of the impairment. This assessment confirms the diagnosis and establishes that the impairment is permanent.
     • Functional Assessment: The classifier evaluates how the impairment affects the athlete’s ability to perform the skills required in tennis, such as mobility, balance, and coordination. This is often done through observation during training and competition.

4. Specific Eligibility for Each Division:

   • Open Division:
     • To be eligible for the Open Division, athletes must have a permanent physical impairment that affects their ability to play standing tennis. Typically, this involves a substantial loss of function in one or both legs. Importantly, they must have full or nearly full function in their arms.
   • Quad Division:
     • Athletes eligible for the Quad Division must have impairments affecting at least three limbs (both lower limbs and at least one upper limb). They often have limited arm strength or coordination, in addition to the impairments affecting their legs.

5. Use of Assistive Devices:

   • Athletes may be required to use a wheelchair for mobility on the court. The use of a wheelchair is mandatory in all wheelchair tennis competitions. However, athletes must demonstrate that their impairment is sufficient to necessitate the use of a wheelchair for tennis, even if they can walk or use prosthetics in daily life.

6. Verification of Impairment:

   • The classification process may require athletes to provide medical documentation or undergo additional assessments to verify the extent of their impairment. This can include medical imaging, diagnostic tests, or other forms of evidence.

7. Appeal and Review Process:

   • If an athlete disagrees with the outcome of their classification or eligibility assessment, they can request a review or appeal. This process allows for further examination or re-evaluation by a different classification panel to ensure fairness and accuracy.

Key Points for Eligibility Determination:

• The impairment must be permanent and verifiable by medical documentation.
• The impairment must significantly affect the athlete's ability to play tennis standing, thereby requiring the use of a wheelchair.
• Athletes are assessed by certified classifiers to determine if they meet the criteria for the Open or Quad divisions.

Summary:

Eligibility for wheelchair tennis is based on a combination of medical diagnosis, functional ability, and classification assessment to ensure that only athletes with a significant and permanent impairment that impacts their ability to play standing tennis can compete. The classification process helps to categorize athletes fairly, ensuring a level playing field for all participants.