Latest Updates on Wheelchair Tennis at the Paris 2024 Paralympics

The Paralympic wheelchair tennis events are set to be a highlight of the Paris 2024 Games, which will run from August 28 to September 8, 2024. Here’s a roundup of the latest news and key players to watch:

Key Players to Watch

1. Diede de Groot (Netherlands): The reigning champion in women’s singles, de Groot is aiming for her second consecutive Paralympic gold. Known for her dominance in the sport, she recently won her 14th consecutive Grand Slam title at the French Open. She begins her Paris campaign against Germany’s Katharina Kruger​.

2. Yui Kamiji (Japan): Kamiji, a three-time Paralympian who won silver at Tokyo 2020, is determined to claim gold this time. She faces South Africa’s Mariska Venter in the first round. Kamiji remains a strong contender, having consistently challenged de Groot in the past​.

3. Niels Vink (Netherlands): A young and rising star, Vink won the 2024 Wimbledon title and is a five-time Grand Slam champion. He will be looking to upgrade his bronze from Tokyo 2020 to gold in Paris. His first match will be against South Africa’s Lucas Sithole​.

4. Alfie Hewett (Great Britain): Hewett is pursuing a career Golden Slam and is another strong contender for the gold in men’s singles. With nine Grand Slam singles titles under his belt, he is poised to make a significant impact in Paris​.

5. Sam Schroder (Netherlands): The current world No. 1 in quad singles, Schroder received a bye in the first round following the withdrawal of Australia’s Heath Davidson. He aims to win his first Paralympic gold in Paris​.

6. Tokito Oda (Japan): Oda, an 18-year-old rising star, has two Roland Garros men’s singles titles to his name. He starts his campaign in Paris against either Great Britain’s Ben Bartram or France’s Guilhem Laget​.

Recent Developments

• Draw Announcements: The draws for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis events were recently announced. These draws set up exciting matchups, with many top seeds receiving byes in the initial rounds. Players like Alfie Hewett, Tokito Oda, and Sam Schroder will be looking to navigate their paths carefully to reach the finals​.

• New Champions Expected: With the retirements of past champions Shingo Kunieda and Dylan Alcott, new gold medallists in men’s and quad singles are expected to emerge at Paris 2024. This opens up the competition, providing an exciting platform for both seasoned players and newcomers​.

• Training and Preparation: Many athletes, such as Kgothatso Montjane of South Africa, are innovating their training regimens to stay competitive. Montjane, who is preparing for her fourth Paralympics, is eager to explore different ways to train and compete at the highest level​.