January will be full of smash hits in Hume, as the Wheelchair Summer Series is played at the Hume Tennis and Community Centre.
The Victorian Wheelchair Tennis Open – ITF1 takes place from January 8 to January 12, and the Melbourne Wheelchair Open – Super Series is the following week from January 14 to January 19.
To officially launch the summer competitions, paralympian Heath Davidson reflected on the growth of wheelchair tennis in Australia.
“I was here at the first event, and we had around 50 players. Fast forward nine years, and we’ve got one of the world’s biggest tournaments… I can’t wait to get the summer started,” he said.
Director of pathways and tennis services Lawrence Robertson said Australia leads from the front in wheelchair tennis.
“We’re so proud that as a tennis nation we have led the way in the wheelchair space, and I think the athletes recognise that.”
Tourism, Sport and Major Events minister Steve Dimopoulos said he’s excited to see the return of the Wheelchair Summer Series for 2024.
“Inclusion is a cornerstone of sport at all levels in Victoria and we want to ensure anyone can take part and enjoy all the benefits sport participation provides,” he said.
“Victoria is the centre of the tennis world in January and we can’t wait to welcome the 2024 Australian Wheelchair Summer Series participants to our world-class Hume Tennis and Community Centre in the lead up to the Australian Open.”
Gerald Lynch
