With less than 40 days to go until the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games get underway, ParalympicsGB has announced the six players selected to the Wheelchair tennis team.
Newly crowned Wimbledon men’s singles champion and three-time Paralympic silver medallist Alfie Hewett (pictured above), his doubles partner and Rio 2016 men’s singles gold medallist Gordon Reid, Ben Bartram and Dahnon Ward will contest the men’s singles and doubles draws in Paris.
Experienced Paralympians and multiple medallists Lucy Shuker and Andy Lapthorne are named in the team to compete in the women’s wheelchair and quad wheelchair draws respectively.
“I’m so incredibly excited and proud to be going to my first Paralympic Games,” said 19-year-old Bartram, who also made his Wimbledon debut this year.
“My interest in wheelchair tennis started with watching Alfie (Hewett) play in Rio. Since then, the sport has taken me on an amazing journey and I’m so excited for everything that’s ahead over the coming weeks.
“It’s going to be so special to have family and friends in Paris supporting me and I can’t thank everyone enough for the support that they’ve given me to get to this stage. I can’t wait to get out there and give it my all.”
Also making his debut in ParalympicsGB’s Wheelchair tennis team, Ward will turn 19 two days before the start of the Paris 2024 Wheelchair tennis event. He and Bartram have developed through the sport’s junior ranks together, winning Junior Masters and US Open junior titles.
Wheelchair tennis will take place at Roland Garros from August 30 to September 7, with the iconic venue becoming the first Grand Slam tennis venue to ever be used for a Paralympic wheelchair tennis event.
The Paralympic Games will take place from August 28 – September 8. To find out more visit https://paralympics.org.uk/
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