By Mark LaRotonda, Special Programs Vice President
As part of the final year of the Atlanta Open, ALTA Wheelchair League tennis players put on an hour-long exhibition that showed off their talents of shot making, speed, and agility.
As the ATP doubles semi-finals let out of Center Court, the crowds built to almost three rows deep to watch the exhibition on the family zone court. Even some of the ball kids came over to participate, including taking turns in the big chair as the umpire. Longtime wheelchair tennis organizer, volunteer, and 12-year ALTA veteran Rob Popelka, who played in this year’s event, has played in Atlanta Open exhibitions in years past. This one was just a little different.
“I was surprised at the number of spectators that stopped to watch for a moment,” he said. “Several people came up to us after the event and asked about wheelchair tennis or just let us know how fascinating it was. We also put the ball kids in the chairs after we were done, and they had a blast trying wheelchair tennis! It is bittersweet because Atlanta is losing a great professional tennis event.”
Jennifer Speer has been in the ALTA Wheelchair League for about eight years and is also on the Shepherd Center tennis team and helps with the Shepherd Center Health and Wellness tennis clinics. She was in this year’s exhibition. “It’s always exciting to show the public what we’re capable of and the fun we have. It was an honor being able to do it on the last year of the Atlanta Open,” said Speer. She added that most people don’t realize wheelchair tennis is a competition sport and how lucky we are to have one of the biggest wheelchair tennis communities right here in Atlanta.
Popelka agrees and says anytime there is an opportunity to showcase wheelchair tennis, it benefits the ALTA Wheelchair League tennis program, but it also promotes activities for disabled people in general. “Before I was injured, I had never seen or known anything about wheelchair sports. Events like this might not directly reach the disabled community, but if someone sees it, they can let others know it exists,” he said. Popelka says his brother happened to be playing a match at Hudlow Tennis Center when Popelka was first injured, saw the wheelchair players there, and told him about it. “I went to Hudlow on a random Tuesday to check it out. As soon as I tried wheelchair tennis, I fell in love with it; therefore, I encourage any promotion of the sport.”
When this year’s exhibition was over, some of the ball kids got in wheelchairs and tried their skills at wheelchair tennis. Even though their strokes were good, they realized the difficulty of getting in position to take a shot was not that easy. Even a young man from the crowd jumped in a chair to try it out. I believe this is an experience he will never forget. Speer says anyone can learn the sport: “Come out and give it a try. You have nothing to lose. It’s simply another opportunity to play tennis, meet new people, and learn some things about wheelchair tennis.”
