Accessibility Tennis

accessibility tennis

Interview with Lucy Shuker, Acclaimed Wheelchair Tennis Player

lucy shuker

 

Steve Davies, Chair of our Competitions Committee, recently had the opportunity to interview Lucy Shuker, acclaimed wheelchair tennis player.

Watch the interview here.

Lucy has had a remarkable season in 2023 achieving remarkable milestones and securing several prestigious titles throughout the year. Her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication have catapulted her to the forefront of the sport, earning her a well-deserved reputation as one of the top players in the world. The following are some of the key highlights of her extraordinary journey this season:

 

  • Australian Open Doubles Semi Finalist
  • Georgia Open ITF1 Doubles Champion
  • Indian Wells ITF3 Doubles Runner-Up
  • Houston Open ITF3 Singles Champion
  • Belgium Open ITF1 Doubles Champion
  • US Open Singles Quarter Finalist
  • Sardinia Open ITF1 Doubles Champion

“The year has gone pretty well in terms of performance. I feel I’ve been building through the year and feel in a good place now to hopefully have a strong end to the year,” Lucy Shuker remarked, reflecting on her remarkable achievements and the season’s progress.

Residing in Dorset, Lucy Shuker enjoys the support of Dorset Tennis who are proud to provide her with assistance on her journey through the competitive tennis circuit. This collaborative effort reflects the local community’s dedication to nurturing talent and promoting sporting excellence.

As the season comes to a close, Lucy Shuker has her sights set on an even more significant goal. She is looking to build for qualification shortly for what would be her 5th Paralympic Games in Paris next year. Her dedication to representing her country on the global stage is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the sport and her desire to inspire others with her journey.

Lucy Shuker’s extraordinary accomplishments in the 2023 wheelchair tennis season have not only solidified her position as one of the sport’s leading figures but also inspired fans and aspiring athletes worldwide. Her dedication, talent, and resilience continue to be a source of pride for the sport’s community and a testament to what can be achieved with hard work and passion.

NEW online course - Wheelchair Tennis: Building Tools and Confidence for Coaches

This course is aimed at coaches looking to develop and enhance their knowledge of wheelchair tennis.  It equips coaches with the fundamental coaching principles, chair set-up considerations and appropriate maintenance and the tools to develop transformative wheelchair tennis programmes for players with physical impairments.

Price: £20
Duration: 2 hours
Credits: 2

Find out more and book here

OPEN COURT PROGRAMME

Dorset is part of the LTA’s Open Court programme to open tennis up to everyone and make it inclusive and accessible for all. The aim is to support players, clubs and coaching programmes in their tennis journey.

David Sanger is Dorset's Lead for the programme. David coaches at Southbourne Tennis Club and runs an excellent Disability Tennis programme which includes sessions for Wheelchair Tennis, Learning Disabilities Tennis, Visually Impaired Tennis, Downs Syndrome Tennis, Dementia Tennis, fully inclusive tennis and a Special Schools tennis programme.  David can be contacted should you have any ideas, questions or need advice on how to make your venue more inclusive.

David Sanger : davesanger@gmail.com

Funding

Dorset LTA in conjunction with Active Dorset, has funding available for venues who wish to make their venue more inclusive by providing opportunities for disability tennis.

If you wish to enquire about funding, please e-mail info@dorsetlta.co.uk

Open Your Doors Training

There is an Open Your Doors 2 hour online disability-inclusion module open to people within a club, park, community and the education landscape who want to make their venue more inclusive. It also supports everyone involved in tennis; coaches, volunteers, committee members and venue staff. When you have finished this course, you will have a better understanding and more detailed knowledge of the following:

  • What ‘inclusion’ and ‘accessibility’ really means
  • The barriers of participation in tennis by disabled people
  • How to overcome some of these through positive change
  • How the LTA can support you both inclusively and through our Open Court Programme

Book on a course here