Adaptive Standing Tennis is a form of tennis for individuals with physical disability who play the sport of tennis standing, or ambulatory as opposed to their counterparts who play wheelchair tennis, playing tennis in a wheelchair. [1]
The newly emerged form of tennis allows individuals with physical disability the opportunity to choose whether to play tennis ambulatory or in a wheelchair. People who play adaptive standing tennis may have an amputation, cerebral palsy, limb malformations, or hemiplegia. [2] Adaptive standing tennis is also referred to as Para-Standing Tennis (PST), or Tenis Adaptivo de Pie (TAP), meaning stand-up adaptive tennis in Spanish. [3] [4]
PST is recognized by the International Tennis Federation and is seeking certification from the International Paralympic Committee to be played at tennis grand slams and in the Paralympics. [5]
This form of tennis has its organized roots coming from Latin America. Locations in Mexico and South America were the first to begin organizing efforts for tennis tournaments and programming specifically tailored to individuals who qualified to play adaptive standing tennis. The form of tennis became referred to as tenis adaptivo de pie. Translated from Spanish to English as playing from the foot up, or standing adaptive tennis. Tenis Adaptivo de pie is also referred to by the acronym TAP.
Throughout the years and origin of adaptive sports many individuals began to participate not only for their own interest but for socialization. In 1937, John Poulin of Austria started playing tennis with a lower limb amputation to one of his legs against pedestrians with the aid of crutches. He is considered to be the first known adaptive standing tennis player. Antonio Solano of Mexico, born in 1960, is considered to be the first known person with upper extremity disability, congenital limb malformation or shortened arms, to play tennis adapted standing.
As advancements in technology in prosthetics and orthotics has increased over the years, persons with physical disabilities began to compete in tennis tournaments with the aid of prosthetic legs, arms, and orthotic braces. Before being labeled a more organized modality of tennis, several exhibitions and tournaments took place around the world. Today, a growing number of organizers operate a schedule of tournaments around the world. [6] [7]
Since adaptive standing tennis was not recognized by governing federations of tennis until 2023, previous tournaments were considered exhibition events.
The first organized International adaptive standing tennis tournament took place at the Tres Marias Club in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico in 2013. Participants from five countries came to compete in the tournament.
On December 11-12, 2015 the Master Final TAP was held in Santiago, Chile. [8] The tournament was organized by the TAP Foundation as part of the TAP World Tour. The TAP World Tour is an International tennis circuit for persons who play adaptive standing tennis. [9] Enzo Amadei Jerez and Ana Maria Rodriguez are the founders of the TAP Foundation and TAP World Tour.
The United States hosted its first International event with the Inaugural USA TAP Open which was held December 9–11, 2016 in Houston, Texas. [10] [11] The tournament was organized by Cindy Benzon, Jeff Bourns, Harold Graham, Enzo Amadei Jerez, and Ana Maria Rodriguez with support from the United States Tennis Association of Texas. 1987 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Ralston was the honorary tournament ambassador. 28 players from 11 countries around the world came to compete in the inaugural event. The USA TAP Open served as the International Adaptive Standing Tennis World Championships from 2016 until 2019 before being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. [12]
The Orthotics Prosthetics Activities Foundation (OPAF) was founded by Robin Burton. The foundation held "first volley" clinics across the United States in an effort to get people playing tennis. The clinics were for both wheelchair and standing amputee tennis players. OPAF held the first United States based amputee tennis tournament in November 2016. [13]
The Carolinas Adaptive Standing Tennis Association (CAST) began to host annual tournaments at Pinetop Tennis Club with the Inaugural CAST Open April 26–28, 2019 in Greensboro, North Carolina. [14] The organization was founded by John Hizer. [15]
Europe hosted its first international level tournament at the 2018 Malmo Open in Malmo, Sweden. [16] The Malmo Open is Europe's largest para sporting event. [17] The tournament was organized by Harald Von Koch and the organizing staff of the Malmo Open. Europe has since seen expanded growth and development in Para-Standing Tennis. [18] In 2023, the PST Italian Open in Turin featured 30+ athletes from 12 different countries. The tournament singles winners were Brazilian Thalita Rodrigues (PST1-2) and American Danny Scrivano (PST3-4). [19]
Japan is known to be the first country that created a national incorporated organization, Japan Adaptive Stand-Up Tennis Association (JASTA). The organization was formed in 2019 by Ken Shibatani and Reiko Shibatani. [20]
The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games (or IWAS World Games) are a multi-sport competition for athletes with a disability, which were the forerunner of the Paralympic Games. The competition has been formerly known as the World Wheelchair and Amputee Games, the World Wheelchair Games, the International Stoke Mandeville Games, the Stoke Mandeville Games (SMG), and in the 1960s and 1970s was often referred to as the Wheelchair Olympics.
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Wheelchair racing is the racing of wheelchairs in track and road races. Wheelchair racing is open to athletes with any qualifying type of disability, including leg amputees, spinal cord injuries, and cerebral palsy. Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their disability or combinations of disabilities. Like running, it can take place on a track or as a road race. The main competitions take place at the Summer Paralympics which wheelchair racing and athletics has been a part of since 1960. Competitors compete in specialized wheelchairs which allow the athletes to reach speeds of 30 km/h (18.6 mph) or more. It is one of the most prominent forms of Paralympic athletics.
Para-athletics is the sport of athletics practised by people with a disability as a parasport. The athletics events within the parasport are mostly the same as those available to able-bodied people, with two major exceptions in wheelchair racing and the club throw, which are specific to the division. The sport is known by various names, including disability athletics, disabled track and field and Paralympic athletics. Top-level competitors may be called elite athletes with disability.
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The Winter Paralympic Games is an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete in snow and ice sports. The event includes athletes with mobility impairments, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Winter Paralympic Games are held every four years directly following the Winter Olympic Games and hosted in the same city. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) oversees the Games. Medals are awarded in each event: with gold for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third, following the tradition that the Olympic Games began in 1904.
T44 is a disability sport classification for disability athletics, applying to "Single below knee amputation or an athlete who can walk with moderately reduced function in one or both legs." It includes ISOD A4 and A9 classes.
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Amputee sports classification is a disability specific sport classification used for disability sports to facilitate fair competition among people with different types of amputations. This classification was set up by International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD), and is currently managed by IWAS who ISOD merged with in 2005. Several sports have sport specific governing bodies managing classification for amputee sportspeople.
A2 is an amputee sport classification used by the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD).for people with acquired or congenital amputations. A2 sportspeople have one leg amputated above the knee. Their amputations impact their sport performance, including having balance issues, increased energy costs, higher rates of oxygen consumption, and issues with their gait.
A3 is an amputee sport classification used by the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD) for people with acquired or congenital amputations. A3 classified sportspeople have both legs amputated below knee. Their amputations impact their sport performance, including having balance issues, increased energy costs, higher rates of oxygen consumption, and issues with their gait. Sports people in this class are eligible to participate in include athletics, swimming, sitting volleyball, archery, weightlifting, badminton, lawn bowls, sitzball and wheelchair basketball.
A4 is an amputee sport classification used by the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD).for people with acquired or congenital amputations. People in this class have one leg amputated below the knee. Their amputations impact their sport performance, including having balance issues, increased energy costs, higher rates of oxygen consumption, and issues with their gait. Sports people in this class are eligible to participate in include athletics, swimming, sitting volleyball, archery, weightlifting, wheelchair basketball, amputee basketball, amputee football, lawn bowls, and sitzball.
Les Autres sport classification is system used in disability sport for people with locomotor disabilities not included in other classification systems for people with physical disabilities. The purpose of this system is to facilitate fair competition between people with different types of disabilities, and to give credibility to disability sports. It was designed and managed by International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD) until the 2005 merger with IWAS, when management switched to that organization. Classification is handled on the national level by relevant sport organizations.
SS2 is a Les Autres sport classification ambulatory class for people with short stature. Eligible males have a standing height and arm length that added together are equal to or less than 200 centimetres (79 in). Eligible female have a standing height and arm length that added together are equal to or less than 190 centimetres (75 in). Internationally, governance for this sport is handled by IWAS, following the 2005 merger of ISMWSF and ISOD. Classification is handled nationally by relevant national organizations. People in this class can participate in a number of sports including athletics, swimming, and para-equestrian.
SS1 is a Les Autres sport classification is an ambulatory class for people with short stature. Eligible males have a standing height and arm length that added together are equal to or less than 180 centimetres (71 in). Eligible female have a standing height and arm length that added together are equal to or less than 173 centimetres (68 in).
Jeff Bourns is an American amputee tennis player who helped pioneer the growth and development of Adaptive Standing Tennis.
USA TAP OPEN was the first International Adaptive Standing Tennis tournament to take place in the United States in American history.