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The tennis players who play by different rules | The tennis players who play by different rules |
(3 days later) | |
Grand slam winners, Paralympians and Wimbledon champions have gone head-to-head at a new tennis championship. | Grand slam winners, Paralympians and Wimbledon champions have gone head-to-head at a new tennis championship. |
Thirteen of the world's best wheelchair players competed at the first Surbiton Wheelchair Tennis Tournament as a warm-up to Wimbledon. | Thirteen of the world's best wheelchair players competed at the first Surbiton Wheelchair Tennis Tournament as a warm-up to Wimbledon. |
It's the first time players have had a chance to try out their grass-court game in a tournament setting before heading to SW19, where three British players will be defending titles. | |
Wheelchair tennis is played on a regular size court with the same balls and rackets but the athletes use specialist wheelchairs and the ball can bounce twice each side of the net. | Wheelchair tennis is played on a regular size court with the same balls and rackets but the athletes use specialist wheelchairs and the ball can bounce twice each side of the net. |
Double Paralympic bronze medallist Lucy Shuker took up the sport after she was paralysed from the waist down in a motorbike accident. | Double Paralympic bronze medallist Lucy Shuker took up the sport after she was paralysed from the waist down in a motorbike accident. |
She has represented Great Britain at three Paralympics and won a bronze medal in the doubles at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, alongside Jordanne Whiley. | She has represented Great Britain at three Paralympics and won a bronze medal in the doubles at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, alongside Jordanne Whiley. |
"When I first started everyone said I was too disabled to compete," says Shuker. | "When I first started everyone said I was too disabled to compete," says Shuker. |
"I'm the most disabled girl on the tour and, as much as it's tough, I've managed to develop a chair and straps that help me with my body to compete, but it's challenging every day." | "I'm the most disabled girl on the tour and, as much as it's tough, I've managed to develop a chair and straps that help me with my body to compete, but it's challenging every day." |
"It's made me stronger, it's made my body better so dealing every day with my disability is easier." | "It's made me stronger, it's made my body better so dealing every day with my disability is easier." |
The top players travel the world to play the game with the four Grand Slams taking place in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York. | The top players travel the world to play the game with the four Grand Slams taking place in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York. |
Fresh from winning the men's singles at this year's French Open, Britain's Alfie Hewett has a title to defend after winning the men's doubles at Wimbledon last year with fellow Briton and world number one Gordon Reid. | Fresh from winning the men's singles at this year's French Open, Britain's Alfie Hewett has a title to defend after winning the men's doubles at Wimbledon last year with fellow Briton and world number one Gordon Reid. |
Hewett started playing in 2005 and made his Paralympic debut in Rio. He came away with two silvers - in the doubles with Reid, and in the singles after Reid defeated him. | Hewett started playing in 2005 and made his Paralympic debut in Rio. He came away with two silvers - in the doubles with Reid, and in the singles after Reid defeated him. |
He says: "Playing on grass requires a different approach. We've not previously had the opportunity to play competitive matches on grass ahead of Wimbledon, so this tournament will form a crucial part of my preparations." | He says: "Playing on grass requires a different approach. We've not previously had the opportunity to play competitive matches on grass ahead of Wimbledon, so this tournament will form a crucial part of my preparations." |
Reigning Australian Open champion, and world number two, Gustavo Fernandez beat Hewett on day one in a reverse match in Surbiton, soon after the Briton's triumph in Paris. | Reigning Australian Open champion, and world number two, Gustavo Fernandez beat Hewett on day one in a reverse match in Surbiton, soon after the Briton's triumph in Paris. |
The Tennis Foundation, which organised the event, says it hopes the warm-up tournament will give the players the edge for Wimbledon, where the wheelchair events start on 13 July. | The Tennis Foundation, which organised the event, says it hopes the warm-up tournament will give the players the edge for Wimbledon, where the wheelchair events start on 13 July. |
All photographs by Phil Coomes | All photographs by Phil Coomes |
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