Disability tennis in Norfolk became popular after the '2005 Youth Games for children with disabilities' organised by Active Norfolk. In the weeks before the event, tennis coaches trained and prepared children from the special needs schools for the competition.

This coaching evolved into a disability tennis group, set up by East Anglia Tennis and Squash Club (EATSC) in Norwich. One of the founding members was 7-year-old Alfie Hewett from Cantley near Norwich, who went on to win silver at Rio in 2016.

Tennis on the rise

There is a new generation of wheelchair tennis players in the county. New players at EATSC can use the club’s sports wheelchairs, giving access to the sport for anyone who wishes to 'have a go' at tennis.

In January 2014, the Norfolk Lawn Tennis Association appointed a Disability Coordinator, Norma Bowen. She works with Active Norfolk, the Tennis Foundation and local coaches to deliver a tennis programme across the county, including sessions for wheelchair, Down’s syndrome, visually impaired and learning disability players. Over 220 people take part every month.

You can read more about Wheelchair Tennis on our sports pages here