Wheelchair Tennis Facility Opens in Virginia

posted on Mar 09 by Nadia in the Disability News category

Virginia recently opened the doors to its first Wheelchair Tennis Training Center at Augusta Health.  For the center’s grand opening, it held an exhibition match for the community to come and watch. Many attended, including Ms. Wheelchair Virginia who was thrilled to see people thriving pass their disability. The match included wheelchair tennis champion Jillana “Mel” Curry. In 2003, Curry’s leg was amputated above the knee due to a clot and two blocked arteries in her leg.  She quickly returned to her love for tennis after reading an article on a wheelchair tennis player in her local newspaper. She has enjoyed still being able to play tennis,as well as teach others in wheelchairs to play the sport.

Wheelchair tennis is not limited to just those in wheelchairs. Wheelchair players can play against able-bodied players, with the wheelchair player being allowed two bounces before returning the ball and able-bodied player the standard one bounce. That is exactly what the aim of opening the Wheelchair Tennis Training Center, to offer tennis to the entire community, including wheelchair persons. This program was initiated by Augusta Health, USTA Virginia, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center and the Mid-Atlantic Wheelchair Athletic Association.