Reuters
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his group stage match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Reuters
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his group stage match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
British wheelchair tennis player Anthony Lapthorne has thanked Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic for encouraging disabled professionals and promoting their sport. However, he voiced his misgivings over the manner in which events are being organized for players of his kind.
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PARIS, FRANCE : Andy Murray of Great Britain smiles on court following his walkover in the Mens Singles semi final match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day six of the BNP Paribas Masters at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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When Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic spoke up for quad tennis players
Lapthorne led the chorus of voices, which eventually forced organizers of the US Open 2020 to include wheelchair events at the Grand Slam.
Speaking at a BBC podcast, Lapthorne claimed events for disabled professionals have been left to the whims and fancies of officials “who don’t have a clue about disability and don’t ask us questions.”
How Murray and Djokovic got US Open organizers to bend on quad players
He said the disabled, who are professional tennis players, are often put on the same level of competition as juniors and legends, which doesn’t attract prize money.
“The top eight, men, women and quad players are full-time professional wheelchair tennis players, but we are put in the same bracket as juniors, who don’t get prize money, and with legends who are retired and playing exhibition tennis, and even getting compared to beach tennis,” Lapthorne said.
#London2012 is trending… The perfect excuse for a #FlashbackFriday to our 🇬🇧 #wheelchairtennis players leading out the @ParalympicsGB team at the Opening Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/17bFfJwBUP
— Wheelchair Tennis (LTA) (@WChairTennisGB) December 4, 2020
He said it was largely down to encouragement received from Murray and Djokovic that helped the wheelchair players showcase their sport to the tennis world.
“It felt like a massive step backwards, but we had great support from the likes of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic and at the end of the day we went out there and proved we are a part of the tennis community,” Lapthorne said.
Quad star Dylan Alcott also thanked Murray and Djokovic
The sterling work of the @DanMaskellTrust has inspired many of our #wheelchairtennis players to take on a ‘Wheelie Physical Challenge’ this December.
Find out more & how you can get involved 👉 https://t.co/7A5gOeckNw pic.twitter.com/IdodiRHCyh
— Wheelchair Tennis (LTA) (@WChairTennisGB) December 4, 2020
The US Open organizers had initially left the quad players out of competition this year before Murray and Djokovic spoke up for them and forced the tournament officials to rethink their decision.
Dylan Alcott, a ten-time Grand Slam quad singles champion, too, recently thanked Murray and Djokovic and Roger Federer for standing up to the US Open organizers against their decision to keep the wheelchair players out of the competition.
The decision drew howls of protest from the tennis world, and even British Paralympic champion Gordon Reid and the International Paralympic Committee spoke up for the quad players.
