London, Aug 25, 2016: The International Tennis Federation (ITF) today confirmed the full list of singles and doubles entries for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Tennis Event at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Barra Olympic Park on 9-16 September. A total of 100 players from 29 countries will compete at the venue for six gold medals, with singles and doubles competitions held in men’s, 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 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.
Two-time Paralympic singles champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan will defend his men’s title in a strong field that also includes world No. 1 and London 2012 silver medallist Stephane Houdet of France. Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Gordon Reid of Great Britain, and Roland Garros champion Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina are among the other leading names.
The women’s singles is guaranteed a new champion following the retirement of four-time Paralympic singles gold medallist Esther Vergeer of Netherlands. World No. 1 Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot will look to continue the Dutch dominance of the event, having won bronze and silver respectively at London 2012. US Open champion Jordanne Whiley of Great Britain, and Roland Garros champion Marjolein Buis of Netherlands are also among the entries.
There will be a new winner of the quad singles, with world No. 1 Dylan Alcott of Australia heading the entries. American David Wagner, a three-time Paralympic singles medallist, will also be bidding for gold, alongside his compatriot and London 2012 bronze medallist Nick Taylor, with whom he has won three consecutive Paralympic men’s doubles titles.
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.
ITF President David Haggerty said: “We look forward to returning to the Rio Olympic Tennis Centre following an outstanding Olympic Tennis Event. 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. 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.” —- ITF
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