As the 2024 Paralympic Games approaches its sixth day, the wheelchair tennis matches are intensifying as they enter the final rounds.
Interest in the sport surged on Tuesday, likely fueled by Google’s charming Doodle depicting birds playing wheelchair tennis and the excitement surrounding the U.S. Open. Many fans are now eagerly searching for the schedule of upcoming matches.
How many wheelchair tennis events are there?
At the Paralympics, wheelchair tennis features six medal events: four in the open division and two in the quad division.
In the open division, which includes athletes with impairments in one or both legs, the events are categorized by gender and include Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles, and Women’s Doubles.
In the quad division, where athletes have impairments in at least three limbs, the events are Quad Singles and Quad Doubles, and competitors of all genders can participate together.
Schedule for the 2024 Paralympics
The gold and bronze medal matches will take place from Wednesday, September 4 through Saturday, September 7, with start times at 6:00 a.m. EDT and 7:30 a.m. EDT.
Unfortunately, no American athletes advanced to the final rounds.
For the complete schedule, visit the Paralympics’ website here: peacock to
For the Kids
Just as Kunieda was a role model for him when he began in Para sports, Oda hopes to inspire more young people to discover and participate in wheelchair tennis. To help make this happen, he organized a junior wheelchair tennis event at an international tournament in his hometown.
“I want to share my international experiences with kids who are already playing wheelchair tennis,” Oda said. “For those who haven’t yet started, I hope to spark their interest and open doors for them to explore the sport.
Facing the Impossible? Not for Him
The Paralympic Games have profoundly transformed his life.
Diagnosed with bone cancer at nine, he underwent rigorous treatment and surgery. During his hospital stay, he watched a video of wheelchair tennis legend Shingo Kunieda competing in the men’s singles final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
“I used to play soccer as a kid and started using a wheelchair at six, which was a huge change,” he recalled. “But seeing Para sports gave me a new dream, which was incredibly important for my life.”
He continued, “In the hospital, I watched various sports—wheelchair tennis, basketball, and others. I chose wheelchair tennis because Shingo Kunieda was from my country. Watching him inspired me to pursue this sport.”
Since then, the teenager has achieved extraordinary success. At just 14, he became the youngest-ever world No. 1 in junior wheelchair tennis. Three years later, he clinched his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros and became the youngest player to hold the world No. 1 ranking in wheelchair tennis singles. With three additional Grand Slam titles, he has become a prominent figure in Japan.
“I love playing wheelchair tennis with a chair and a racquet,” Oda said. “Normally, tennis is played standing, so playing from a chair is challenging but incredibly enjoyable. That’s what matters most to me.”
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