Wimbledon, famous for its traditions, has decided to join prestigious Grand Slam tournaments this year by increasing the number of players in their draws. Despite being initially hesitant about change, Wimbledon will now follow the lead of the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open.
The wheelchair events at Wimbledon are set to kick off a day earlier than usual on July 9 to accommodate the matches. However, the quad draws will remain unchanged with eight singles players and four doubles teams since they were expanded in 2022.
Returning Champions of Wheelchair Tennis
Defending champions Tokito Oda from Japan and Diede de Groot from the Netherlands will strive to retain their titles in the men’s and women’s wheelchair categories. In men’s doubles Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid hold the title while De Groot and Jiske Griffioen are women’s doubles champions. The current quad-doubles champions are Sam Schröder and Niels Vink.
Applications Are Up
The sport and opportunities for wheelchair tennis continue to go ?? https://t.co/SjKBk5fIt9
— Matthew Grover (@MattAGrover) March 23, 2024
The All England Club reported a record number of applications for tickets from the ballot this year. The interest is coming from around the globe, particularly from countries like the United States, Spain, and France.
Upcoming Wimbledon Event
Wimbledon is increasing the size of the wheelchair tennis draws. ? https://t.co/P9JLhZOjq8
— Kate T (@K8Carine) March 23, 2024
The upcoming Wimbledon event is aligning itself with Grand Slam tournaments by accommodating 16 singles players and eight doubles teams in their quad events. Excitement is mounting as Wimbledon approaches, scheduled to take place from July 1-14. The expansion of match numbers and synchronization with Grand Slams marks an era for Wimbledon. They are blending change with their esteemed traditions.
Wimbledon’s choice to enlarge its draw sizes mirrors the trend in tennis towards inclusivity and diversity. By increasing player and team numbers, Wimbledon is offering opportunities for wheelchair athletes to display their talents in tennis.
Check out other articles by the author
From Courtside to Court: The Journey of Tennis Moms
Halep vs. Badosa: A Glimpse into the Courageous Comeback of a Champion
Tennis Star Mourns Partner’s Death by Apparent Suicide
About Author
Jocelyn Paige Kelly is not your typical sports writer. She’s a Clarion West grad, short story writer, and poet. If you’re lucky you might catch her on Twitter tweeting as @jossome or you can read one of her many published short stories here. She has an interesting history of writing blogs for various companies from a psychic network to a supplements company. Nothing, except her kidneys, phase her.
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.