History

Wheelchair Tennis developed in the USA in the 1970s. The International Wheelchair Tennis Federation (IWTF) was founded in 1988. Ten years later, the IWTF was integrated in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the IWTF therefore ceased to exist. The ITF is now responsible for all Wheelchair Tennis matters and is advised by the IWTA, which includes all Wheelchair Tennis member nations.

Wheelchair Tennis was an exhibition sport in the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games and was introduced in the Paralympic Games programme at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games. The sport has developed rapidly ever since and has spread to more than 70 countries. At the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, quadraplegics were able to participate in single and double competitions for the first time.