- Who has claimed the men's singles wheelchair tennis Paralympic crown?
- 2008:
JPN - 2004:
NED - 2000:
AUS - 1996:NED
- Who has claimed the women's singles wheelchair tennis Paralympic crown?
- 2008:NED
- 2004:NED
- 2000:NED
- 1996:NED
The Athletes
Don’t expect any bum notes when one of GB’s brightest young wheelchair tennis stars, Louise Hunt, takes to the court at London in 2012…
Meet Gordon Reid, the GB wheelchair tennis star who’s normally pitch perfect on court, even if he isn’t off it
The youngest woman ever to win the national title, Jordanne's aiming to beat court legend Esther Vergeer at 2012 and scoop a medal
As the British Wheelchair Tennis No. 1 races up the rankings faster than Bolt off the blocks, is her goal of gold at 2012 in sight?
He might be pushing 50, but it's speed of mind and precision that ensure Peter Norfolk remains the wheelchair tennis quads world No. 1
How it works: Wheelchair tennis
All Paralympics tennis stars compete in wheelchairs, either in singles or doubles events. The only difference rule-wise from able bodied games is that the ball is allowed to bounce twice so athletes have time to throw their high-speed chairs around the court.
What you need to know
There are two distinct classifications: 'quad', for players with disabilities in three or all limbs and 'open' for players with a disability in one or both lower limbs.
To guarantee their shots have maximum impact, players in the quad category are allowed to hold rackets taped to their hands and for freer, faster movement use electric-powered wheelchairs.
Eat your heart out Tim Henman and Andy Murray - Peter Norfolk won a gold medal for Great Britain at the 2004 Games in the quad singles proving that Brits can win major tournaments! His nickname is, somewhat unsurprisingly, the 'QuadFather'.
Tennis wheelchairs are space-age in design and engineering. Made with super-light titanium, they have two large tilted wheels to aid twisting and turning along with three small 'anti-tip' wheels to keep the chair stable.
Spectators can't get enough. At the Paralympic Games Sydney 2000, more than 10,000 fans arrived every day at centre court for the action.
What to say: Wheelchair tennis
Most people know basic tennis jargon, so throw out some higher-end technical terms. 'Contact point' is where the racket meets the ball and the dubious sounding 'Eastern grip' is a powerful groundstroke grip.
Who's good: Wheelchair tennis
The Dutch are the giants of Paralympic tennis, having won a whopping 22 medals, but the US, France and Australia are nipping at their heels.
Features
The unbeatable champion who hates losing
Esther Vergeer hasn't been beaten in a wheelchair tennis match in nine years, so why does she fear losing so much?
Ammerlaan wins men's Eton Manor title
Dutchman too good for GB's David Phillipson at wheelchair tennis test event
Video
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