Tribe Tennis takes part in USTA Run and Roll Tennis Challenge
The William and Mary men's and women's tennis teams took part in the 2009 Run and Roll Tennis Challenge to kick off the USTA Virginia Wheelchair Open sponsored by Truong Rehabilitation Center at the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center on Oct. 30.
The event included a reception with food and drinks before hand. Members of the men's and women's teams, Tribe Aces and W&M club tennis team joined the competitors in the tournament in an evening of fun. The purpose of the event was to help spread the awareness of wheelchair tennis and the game of tennis overall, while also educating individuals of the rules and play of wheelchair tennis.
Along with the reception, the event integrated wheelchair players with able-bodied players in matches. Able-bodied players were also given the opportunity to try out the game as a wheelchair player.
Wheelchair tennis is one of the fastest growing and most challenging of all wheelchair sports. Rules are the same as stand-up tennis, except that wheelchair players are allowed two bounces of the ball. Wheelchair tennis provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to share in activities with their peers and family, whether able-bodied or disabled.
Currently, Virginia offers a summer program in Richmond for wheelchair players and includes six weeks of wheelchair lessons provided by the Richmond Tennis Association. The Virginia Wheelchair Open at the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center was the first of its kind. The USTA hopes to continue to spread the sport of wheelchair tennis throughout the state of Virginia.
