Wrexham Tennis Centre hosts the LTA’s Visually Impaired Tennis National Finals for the second year in a row this weekend as 36 athletes line up for three days of singles and doubles competition across a range of sight classifications from Friday, 18 to Sunday, 20 November.
The culmination of a domestic calendar of LTA events for players who have various degrees of sight loss, the Visually Impaired Tennis National Finals features many of the country’s – and the world’s – most accomplished players.
Chris Baily, James Currie, Neil Fradgley, Sarah Fortescue, Rosie Pybus and Paul Ryb, all former medallists at the International Blind Tennis Tournament that has traditionally been the sport’s global showcase, will be among the leading challengers for national titles this year as Wrexham hosts the biggest visually impaired tennis event this side of the 2023 International Blind Sport Association (IBSA) World Games in Birmingham.
Tennis will be part of the schedule for the first time at next August’s multi-sport event and Visually Impaired Tennis (VI Tennis), which was founded in Japan in 1984, is now played in more than 30 countries across the world
Ryb will join Naqi Rizvi, Daniel Hopkins, Ivan Rodriguez-Deb, Andrea Logan and Lydia Wrightson among reigning singles champions who are returning to Wrexham in the quest for more success this year.
LTA Tournament Director Sophie Hall, said:
“We are delighted to be returning to Wrexham Tennis Centre for the Visually Impaired Tennis National Finals and have an immensely talented pool of players who all demonstrate that tennis is a sport that can be adapted for everyone to enjoy, regardless of circumstance.
“VI Tennis continues to grow and develop on the regional, national and international stage and we are proud to have some of the very best players in the world here in Great Britain. Visitors to Wrexham Tennis Centre this weekend can expect to witness a high level of tennis from players who will be hoping to earn selection for next year’s IBSA World Games.”
Players competing in Wrexham this weekend will play in different sight categories, ranging from B1, for those with no sight, through to B2, B3, B4 and B5, for players with various degrees of sight loss.
B1 and B2 players are allowed three bounces of the ball before having to return it to their opponent, while B3 players are allowed two bounces and B4 and B5 players allowed just one bounce of the ball. Courts for B1 players have tactile lines so that players can touch them, while players use an audible tennis ball that makes a noise when it bounces or when it is being hit.
VI Tennis Regional Tournaments Calendar
Call the LTA Services Team on +44 (0)208 487 7000 for an expert member of the team to assist with any queries you may have.
To use the tournament search on the LTA website you will need to register and become an LTA Member, you will also need to tick the disability option and choose your dates ( at the moment of writing this
Website: https://www3.lta.org.uk/Competitions/Search/
LTA Disability Competitions Calendar and Entry links
LTA Disability Competitions Calendar: https://blindsport.uk/LTAVIComps
LTA Disability area: https://blindsport.uk/LTAVITennis
To confirm and for latest updated info please use the contact below
Contact: Email: disabilitycompetitions@lta.org.uk
or Claire McCulloch – Disability Competitions Co-ordinator
D: +442084877124
M: +447957959057
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