Wheelchair tennis entry list announced for Rio 2016

The Rio 2016 Paralympic tennis events’ entry lists have been confirmed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), with a total of 100 players from 29 countries competing at the Olympic Tennis Centre, in Barra Olympic Park, for six golds from 9-16 September.

The singles and doubles competitions will be held in wheelchair tennis men’s and women’s, and quad categories. The doubles teams comprise those players already contesting the singles events.

The men’s singles event will feature 52 players, women’s singles 32 players and quad singles 16 players. The quad event is open to both men and women. The doubles events feature 20 men’s teams, ten women’s teams and six quad teams.

The entries are a combination of direct acceptances based on the ITF wheelchair tennis world rankings of 23 May 2016, and Bipartite Commission Invitation places awarded by the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Four Doubles World Ranking Allocation places have been awarded in the men’s doubles to ensure the strongest possible competition, with these players also receiving entry into the singles. The men’s and women’s winners of the 2014 Asian Para Games and the 2015 Para PanAm Games have also received a direct entry.

Japan’s two-time Paralympic singles champion Shingo Kunieda aims to defend his men’s title against France’s world No. 1 and London 2012 silver medallist Stephane Houdet. Great Britain’s Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Gordon Reid, and Argentina’s Roland Garros champion Gustavo Fernandez are other leading names.

Following the retirement of the Netherlands’ four-time Paralympic singles gold medallist Esther Vergeer, a new champion in the women’s singles is guaranteed. World No. 1 Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot will look to continue the Dutch dominance of the event.

There will be a new winner in the quad singles, with Australia’s world No. 1 Dylan Alcott heading the entries. USA’s three-time Paralympic medallist David Wagner will also be bidding for gold.

The Paralympic tennis event will be played on hard court, with nine match courts and six practice courts, including a 10,000-capacity centre court and 3,000-capacity second show court.

“London 2012 saw the most successful Paralympic Tennis Event in history, and I am confident that this year’s event will be an equally memorable competition,” said ITF President David Haggerty.

“Wheelchair tennis has become one of the most popular Paralympic sports thanks to its outstanding athletes and great personalities, and we are looking forward to a great atmosphere and some fierce competition.”

More information can be found on the ITF’s website.

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs)

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.

Visa International is the exclusive payment card and the official payment system for the Paralympic Games.