What are the rules of wheelchair tennis?
B · Beginner · The rules · 1 of 2Wheelchair tennis is tennis under the ITF Rules of Tennis, with a few exceptions. The ball may bounce twice before it is returned, and the chair counts as part of the body. There are special rules for the serve, for keeping a buttock on the seat and for using the feet. Court, net and scoring are unchanged.
How it works
- Rules: ITF Rules of Tennis, with exceptions.
- Bounces: two allowed.
- Chair: part of the body.
- Serve: stationary, then one push.
- Seat: one buttock in contact when hitting.
- Feet: not used to brake or turn.
- Court and scoring: as in tennis.
- Mixed play: each player follows their own rules.
The glossary has the wheelchair tennis, the International Tennis Federation, the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis, the two-bounce rule, the wheelchair as part of the body and the wheelchair and able-bodied players.
Tricky cases
A wheelchair player meets an able-bodied player. Who gets two bounces?
Only the wheelchair player.
Is the court smaller?
No.
Can the second bounce be out?
Yes. It may land in or out of the court.
Who publishes the rules?
The ITF.
Why the rule exists
Two bounces give chair players time to reach the ball. Keeping everything else the same keeps it tennis.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bounces | Two | App L 1a |
| Chair | Part of the body | App L 1b |
| Mixed play | Each follows own rules | App L 1g |
From the rule book
ITF, Wheelchair Tennis Competition Regulations 2026 (January 2026), Appendix L, rule 1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ITF Wheelchair Tennis Competition Regulations 2026.