Faced with a limited entry of just 8 players, from different sight categories and with levels ranging from international to novice, it was always going to be a challenge for IBTA international referee, Martin Etheridge, to strike the right balance. A packed schedule of 22 matches was played across the day in the USTA National Campus indoor facility in Orlando, Florida.
Each court had volunteers to collect and feed the balls and an umpire and this added to the overall competition experience of the players. The two B1s – Maggie and Nancy – played evenly balanced matches between themselves, both of which finished 7-5. They then played a doubles match together with a sighted player and this new format was very well received. The remaining 6 players were split into two groups based on experience. Each played a standard one set match to 6 with everyone in their group, together with those in the other as well as with sighted volunteers.
Despite the low numbers of players, everyone was able to play between 5 and 7 matches and this was well received. Paul Ryb from the UK commented, “Everyone got to play a phenomenal amount of match play and truly experience what it is like to compete. I believe there was significant improvement in the B1s game through the day and matches. I too revelled in being able to play so many games”. He added that running a tournament alongside a conference was “an excellent way to teach the game to a new audience and I hope the format is replicated in other countries by the tennis federations. The more events like this the more chance we have of growing the sport”.
Maggie, a member of the US Highland Park Club in Pittsburgh felt the weekend was “memorable on so many levels. Speaking as a B1 athlete, it was so enabling to have the tactile markings on the court and to finally actually ‘play tennis’. The feeling of total orientation and my first ever return and point were the highlights of my weekend!” Last word to Chuck, also from the Highland Park club. “I had an amazing time this weekend, it was truly a weekend I will never forget”.