AUSTRALIAN WHEELCHAIR SUMMER SERIES - PREVIEW

This year’s Australian Wheelchair Tennis Summer Series is set to be the biggest one yet. With three events, including the Australian Open, competitors have an abundance of high-quality match play to start their year off on the right foot.  

“During our many months of planning for the Australian Open it’s been a priority to provide as many competition opportunities for the playing group as possible,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley stated. 

Players will prepare for the Australian Open from February 3rd at the Hume Tennis Centre. The Victorian Wheelchair Tennis Open will take place from February 3rd to February 6th. Players will then launch straight back into match play with the Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open from February 8th to February 11th. The Australian Open will then take place from February 14th to February 17th. 

The field for the quad tournaments has now expanded to eight players and will be a knockout tournament rather than a round robin.  

On the quad side of things, World No. 1, Dylan Alcott, will be chasing his seventh Australian Open Quad Singles title and his 12th grand slam. The hometown hero had a successful 2020 as he won Roland Garros and finished runners up at the U.S. Open. 

Fellow Aussie counterpart and World No. 7 Heath Davidson will be looking to defend his doubles title with Alcott, as well as hoping to claim his first singles title.  

World No. 2, Andy Lapthorne, will be looking for redemption after losing to Alcott in the final at last year's Australian Open.  

The biggest competition the Australian World No. 1 will face, however, is rising star and World No. 3, Sam Schroder. The 21-year-old snatched the U.S. Open away from Alcott in 2020 and will have high hopes of doing the same at Melbourne Park.  

On the men’s wheelchair side, Japan's Shingo Kunieda will be the top seed. The World No. 1 has won ten Australian Opens to go along with his 14 other majors. The 36-year-old superstar has a singles career win rate of 88.89% (493-62).  

Australian and World No. 41, Ben Weekes, received a wildcard into the tournament. 

On the women’s wheelchair side, Deide de Groot from the Netherlands will be the top seed. The 24-year-old has previously won two Australian Opens (2018 and 2019) and won last year's U.S. Open. Defending champion and World No. 2, Yui Kamiji, will be hoping to reclaim her title at Melbourne Park. The 26-year-old is in great form as she also won the French Open last year.  

There are no Australians competing in the women's wheelchair series. A full list of competitors can be found below.

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