Wheelchair tennis words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 23 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

International Tennis Federation

The international governing body for tennis, including wheelchair tennis. It publishes the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis and runs the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Competition: the Tour, the World Team Cup and the Masters.

Also called: ITF
See also: Wheelchair tennis, Rules of Wheelchair Tennis

Rules of Wheelchair Tennis

The rules in Appendix L of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Competition Regulations. They list the exceptions to the ITF Rules of Tennis and refer to those rules for everything else.

See also: Wheelchair tennis

Wheelchair and able-bodied players

When a wheelchair player plays with or against an able-bodied player in singles or doubles, the wheelchair player follows the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis and the able-bodied player the Rules of Tennis. The wheelchair player has two bounces and the able-bodied player one.

Rules of play

Service by a Quad player

If the usual service methods are physically impossible for a Quad player, the player or another person may drop the ball and let it bounce before it is struck. The same method must then be used for the whole match. Anyone who helps a Quad player drop the ball to serve must follow the regulations on clothing and equipment identification.

See also: Quad

Use of feet and lower extremities

A player loses the point by using any part of the feet or lower extremities against the ground or against a wheel while serving, hitting the ball, turning or stopping while the ball is in play. Lower extremities means the lower limbs, including the buttocks, hips, thighs, legs, ankles and feet. One exception is the foot-propulsion rule below.

Propelling the chair with a foot

A player who cannot push the wheelchair by the wheels because of lack of capacity may use one foot to propel it. No part of the foot may touch the ground during the forward swing, including when the racket hits the ball, or from the start of the service motion until the racket hits the ball. A breach loses the point.

Wheelchair and equipment

Wheelchair specification

The wheelchair may be made of any material that is non-reflective and does not hinder the opponent. The wheels may have a single pushrim only, and no change that gives a mechanical advantage, such as levers or gears, is allowed. Players propel the chair only with the wheels and pushrims. No steering, braking, gearing or energy storage device is allowed. The wheels must not leave permanent marks or damage the court.

Powered wheelchair

A wheelchair driven by electric motors, allowed only for players who meet Article 10 of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Classification Rules. It must not be able to exceed 15 km/h in any direction and must be controlled by the player only.

See also: Wheelchair tennis

Wheelchair modification

A change to the wheelchair for a legitimate medical reason. The application goes to the ITF Sport Science & Medicine Commission at least 60 days before the intended use in an ITF-sanctioned event. A refusal can be appealed under the regulations on disputes.

Wheelchair inspection

At tournaments the wheelchair must have non-marking tyres, must not damage the court through footrests, front casters, anti-tip tubes or rear tyres, and must not have light-up casters. The ITF Supervisor may inspect it, and a player whose chair fails is given reasonable time to change it. The player is responsible for the chair being in good working order.

Extra-long racket

A Quad player may use an extra-long racket only if the extra length is needed to tape the racket to the hand or arm.

See also: Quad

Repair break

A break to repair the wheelchair during a match, allowed with permission from the chair umpire, off-court umpire or ITF Supervisor. Repair breaks are not limited in number but are timed together: breaks adding up to 15 minutes bring a delay-of-game penalty, and 20 minutes bring a default.

Classification and categories

Sport class status (wheelchair tennis)

A player's classification status under the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Classification Rules. The regulations name three: New (N), Open and Quad. A New player may only play WT25 tournaments and up to four others in certain Grades. An Open player may play only the Men's or Women's category. A Quad player may play only the Quad category, with the exceptions below.

Categories (wheelchair tennis)

The adult categories are Men's, Women's and Quad, and the junior categories are Boys and Girls. Men's and Boys are open to male players and Women's and Girls to female players, under the ITF Gender Eligibility Policy. Quad is open to players of any sex or gender.

See also: Quad

Quad player in the Men's or Women's category

A Quad player may enter the Men's or Women's category where an event has no Quad draw, as an on-site alternate or with a wild card, on the ranking for that category. A Quad player may also apply in writing to play Men's or Women's, with no change of class or condition needed, only once. The ITF decides within 28 days, and the player stays Quad-only until then. A successful player may later apply to reverse it.

See also: Quad

Quad extra time

A Quad player may be given extra time at a changeover to reposition or adjust the racket in the hand, with permission in advance from the chair umpire, an off-court umpire or the ITF Supervisor, and kept to a reasonable minimum. At the start of a match Quad players have 120 seconds from the last player arriving on court and being transferred and strapped into the chair until the pre-match meeting, against 60 seconds in the Men's and Women's categories.

Cooling for Quad players

Tournaments must provide shade and ice buckets on court for Quad players, and a Quad player may be helped to spray water over the face.

See also: Quad

Competition

UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour

The ITF's official tour for wheelchair tennis players who play as individuals, made up of tournaments that the ITF sanctions and that are run by national associations or other organisers.

See also: Wheelchair tennis

Tour grades (wheelchair tennis)

In order: the Premier grade (Grand Slams, the Masters, WT1000, WT500 and WT250), the International grade (WT175, WT100 and WT50) and the Development grade (WT25).

Masters (wheelchair tennis)

The ITF's end-of-season event, made up of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters for singles, the UNIQLO Doubles Masters and the Junior Masters. It counts toward the Tour ranking but runs under its own regulations.

See also: Wheelchair tennis

World Team Cup (wheelchair tennis)

The ITF's official annual team competition for national teams of wheelchair tennis players (the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in the 2026 regulations), owned and run by the ITF. It has Men's, Women's and Quad categories.

Also called: Team Competition
See also: Wheelchair tennis, Quad

Wheelchair Tennis Ranking

The Tour's system of merit, calculated separately for Men's, Women's and Quad and for singles and doubles, from points won in ranking tournaments over the past 52 weeks. Singles counts a player's twelve best results in Men's and Women's and ten in Quad. A player is eligible after earning points in two ranking tournaments, and must be at least 14 on the Monday of the tournament week to enter an adult draw.

Match format (wheelchair tennis)

Singles main, second and qualifying draws are best of three sets with advantage scoring and a let. Singles consolation draws and doubles draws (except at Grand Slams) are best of three sets, worded in the regulations as two tie-break sets and, if tied, a 10-point match tie-break to decide the match. Doubles uses no-ad scoring; Grand Slam doubles follow each Grand Slam's rule book. The ITF may approve alternative scoring in advance, such as short sets, no-ad scoring or a 7-point or 10-point match tie-break.

All Wheelchair tennis words