Raising the Level: Wheelchair Tennis Takes Center Court
Volume 49, Issue 10
By Nicole Pressly

Beth Arnoult is ranked number two in the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA). Never heard of her? That may be because Arnoult competes in a wheelchair. She never played tennis until an accident left her without the use of her legs. During rehabilitation, she picked up a racket and began her love affair with wheelchair tennis.

“I play with able-bodied players. One day I beat in doubles two women who afterwards laughed. I said, ‘Why are you laughing?’ They said, ‘Now we have to go home and tell people we lost to a player in a wheelchair’,” she said.

Wheelchair rugby has gotten a lot of press lately, with a documentary in theaters, and a New York Times Sunday Magazine spread. However, wheelchair tennis is just as competitive and is on the verge of national recognition. This year is the inaugural U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament with eight women and eight men competing. It is a fully-fledged competition category at the U.S. Open. No more exhibition status.

Helping wheelchair tennis gain national recognition is the new non-profit organization begun by Seaview and NYC resident Bob Waldman. BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation was created this year to heighten the awareness of wheelchair tennis for persons with disabilities and others, and to give wheelchair players their rightful recognition as outstanding athletes.

The idea began two years ago with a casual lunch date between Waldman, a former president of the Eastern Tennis Officials Association and currently the Supervisor of Guest Information at the U. S. Open Tennis Tournament (in addition to being a Line Umpire for over 20 years) and wheelchair players Beth Arnoult, Steve Welch (ranked #1 in the USTA), Jon Ryberg and Karen Korb.

Waldman met the players eight years ago when he was asked to umpire some matches at the National Tennis Center in Forest Hills.

“I watched the matches and saw the quality of tennis and great sportsmanship and I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

So Waldman started to talk to players and to umpire more matches. Over lunch they discussed the lack of sponsorship and the consequential financial hardships of playing.

“They had almost none [sponsorship]—only wheelchair companies. We felt they deserved to raise the bar. So we formed the BaseLine Tennis Team,” said Waldman.

In fact, this year Sharron Walraven, #2 in World Ranking from the Netherlands, had been invited to the U.S Open, but could not afford the expense of traveling to the United States.

The players average tournament purse is $3,000—which doesn’t even cover the costs of traveling, compared to the millions regular players win.

“There has to be a way to raise the level. There are sponsors out there, I know it,” said Waldman.

A Great Game

The games are extremely exciting, with players showing extraordinary athletic ability. Wheelchair tennis allows two bounces before the hit. A rule of serving is one butt cheek must be in the seat, due to different abilities of each player. The wheelchairs are sport chairs—they have a 20-degree tilt of the wheel. The players are so good, that they don’t even have to compete against each other, they often play against able-bodied players.

This year at the National Public Parks Tournament, Karin Korb, a wheelchair player entered the regular women’s singles event. She not only entered but beat her first round opponent handily.

A Mission On Wheels

The Foundation plans to conduct a broad range of programs to achieve their mission. These programs will be carried out by members of the BaseLine team, which currently includes a group of 12 highly ranked world class professional wheelchair players who compete in more than 150 tournaments worldwide. The team includes the #2 U.S. woman and #1 U.S. man ranked individually in their country and then ranked internationally.

An advisory board consists of prominent representatives from tennis, finance, special events and medical communities.

Jay Snyder, director of the U.S. Open Tournament from 1993-2001 and currently U.S. Open Tournament advisor, comes out to Fire Island to relax before the open. He’s been involved in tennis for some 40-plus years as a player, an umpire, a referee and administrator, and now as a member of the BaseLine Advisory board.

“Wheelchair tennis is more than making lemonade from lemons–it's taking what life throws at you and throwing something back. Wheelchair athletes give us a very clear message–nothing is going to stop them from competing and winning, every day of their life,” Snyder said.

Donations can be made to 1735 York Ave., Suite 26B, New York, NY 10128. For more information or to see wheelchair tennis in action email Bob at waldbob12@aol.com.

At this moment it is becoming the BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation so it will be tax deductible, to help with fundraising. By fall, a Web site will be online.

In a recent interview on channel 4 during exhibition, Waldman was quoted about these athletes.

“These players may not be able to stand up but they do stand out,” he said.