Wheelchair tennis classification
Classification is available to any player with an eligible physical impairment who wishes to compete in wheelchair tennis and forms an important part of the player development and competition pathway. Players seeking to compete at World Tennis Wheelchair Tennis Tour events must obtain an eligible classification status in accordance with the relevant classification regulations.
Classification is not required for players competing in World Tennis Junior Wheelchair Tennis or LTA domestic regional series competitions.
Classifiable impairment groups
Classification determines who is eligible to compete at an international level and ensure fair competition across both Open and Quad Division. To compete in wheelchair tennis, you must have an eligible health condition that falls within one of seven impairment groups:
Ataxia: Uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system (e.g., Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis).
Athetosis: Having continual slow involuntary movements (e.g., Cerebral Palsy).
Impaired muscle power: A health condition that either reduces or eliminates the ability to voluntarily contract muscles to move or generate force (e.g., Spinal Cord Injury, Spina Bifida).
Impaired passive range of movement: A restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints (e.g., Perthes, Arthrogryposis).
Limb deficiency: A total or partial absence of bones or joints because of trauma, illness, or congenital limb deficiency (e.g., amputation).
Hypertonia: An increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch (e.g., Cerebral Palsy).
Leg length difference: A difference in the length of their legs (e.g., Dysmelia, disturbance of limb growth).
There will be multiple eligible physical impairments within each classifiable impairment group.
Divisions of wheelchair tennis
Once classified into wheelchair tennis, you're then grouped into one of two divisions: Open or Quad. These divisions guarantee fair competition by minimising the impact which eligible impairments have on the outcome of competition and ensure that the best players can be successful. You can find out more about the wheelchair tennis divisions below:
Players in this division will have a permanent physical impairment that results in substantial loss of function in one or both lower extremities (legs) and that meets or exceeds the sports eligibility criteria.
The Open Division is separated into men’s and women’s competitions.
Players in this division will have a permanent physical impairment that results in substantial loss of function in one or both lower extremities (legs) and one or both upper extremities (arms/ hands and may include level of trunk function).
The Quad Division is mixed, meaning men and women compete together.
Classification process
World Tennis is responsible for the governance and delivery of wheelchair tennis classification and conducts classification opportunities throughout the year for players seeking to compete in international competition.
To begin the classification process, players must complete the World Tennis Medical Registration Form (MRF) and submit it to wchclassification@itftennis.com. As part of the application process, approval from the players National Association is required. Therefore, the completed MRF must be submitted to the LTA at wheelchairtennis.classification@lta.org.uk.
Completing the classification process is an important step for players aspiring to compete on the World Tennis Wheelchair Tennis Tour, ensuring eligibility for international competition and progression within the high-performance pathway.
In all cases, classification must meet the requirements of the World Tennis rules which can be viewed here.
This includes:
- Rules and regulations
- Overview of sport class status
- Master list of all eligible players
- Classification event schedule
- Protest Form
Junior players (aged 18 yrs., & younger) do not need to be internationally classified to compete in Junior World Tennis Wheelchair Tour events, other than if juniors want to compete in senior events, at which point, players must be formally classified.
This is due to potential impairment changes that may occur as juniors develop through growth and maturation.
Not all impairments are eligible to compete in international competitions. If you do have an ineligible impairment, you are still allowed to compete domestically in LTA sanctioned regional series competitions.
Find a competition
Ready to get stuck into competing? Use the link below to find a competition near you: