Wheelchair tennis invitational showcased at Miami Open
A live TV news station covering breaking news and traffic for Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Southern Colorado with a strong investigative team The Miami Open is hosting its first wheelchair tennis invitational, showcasing its first event. The athletes, including current number one in both singles and doubles for wheelchair tennis, Diede de Groot and a 39-time major champion, shared their personal experiences with CBS Sports Miami. The director of the event, Shingo Kunieda, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist and winner of 28 major titles, expressed hope that the event would inspire young children watching the games. The event carries a strict local market embargo and may not be used on any platform by the contributor of this article.
Pubblicato : 4 settimane fa di in Sports
Click here for updates on this story
MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — The Miami Open is showcasing its first wheelchair tennis invitational.
CBS Sports Miami’s Trish Chirstakis was at the matches and shares the touching stories these athletes take with them on the courts.
“We put in so much work and it’s really important for people to see that and don’t see the wheelchair almost, of course, they’re there and we need them but hopefully they can see past it and see that we’re athletes,” said Diede de Groot.
De Groot is the current number one in both singles and doubles for wheelchair tennis and a 39-time major champion, a sport that changed her life.
“Looking back, it gave me the opportunity to enjoy being active in a way that other sports wouldn’t give me… because I always had a disadvantage, but wheelchair tennis gave me the opportunity to be just like other kids.”
Alfie Hewett has been playing wheelchair tennis since he was 8 years old. It helped his mental health as a kid and hopes to inspire young kids watching today.
“For a young disabled kid coming out the grounds today to watch some wheelchair tennis that could be the moment they decide to play and the rest can be history,” said Hewett.
“Wow. So impressive, it makes you more of an athlete, not less at all. It makes them more!” said one fan.
Something the director of the event, Shingo Kunieda, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist and winner of 28 major titles was hoping fans would witness while at the Miami Open.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Temi: Tennis