German born Kai Schrameyer has noticed the event and progress of wheelchair tennis in Canada firsthand through the years.
Schrameyer, a former world no. 1 and three-time Paralympic medallist, reached the top of the game within the Nineteen Nineties. Though he stepped away within the early 2000s to pursue a sports activities advertising and marketing profession, a ardour for wheelchair tennis led him again to the teaching sphere the place he now leads Tennis Canada’s nationwide program.
“It’s mind-boggling to see how the game’s developed because the humble starting within the ‘70s, to once I received concerned within the ‘80s,” mentioned Schrameyer.
Schrameyer is a former world no. 1 in wheelchair tennis and three-time Paralympic medallist
“Every part is extra skilled, ranging from the athletes and their preparation to the bodily side, the standard of the tournaments… the prize cash has grown exponentially.”
With Schrameyer carrying over his experience from enjoying the game into teaching, he’s pushing Canadians in the direction of extra success.
“You must have a sure humility – simply since you had been a terrific athlete or wheelchair tennis participant, it doesn’t mechanically you’re coach. It’s fairly difficult to convey the data you might have.”
The previous wheelchair champion has accomplished his finest work with Canada’s prime athlete on the wheelchair tennis circuit, Rob Shaw.
Learn extra: Monday Digest – Shaw scores large in Japan
The 34-year-old continued his consistency on courtroom this previous week, profitable the Japan Open in doubles with associate Heath Davidson. It’s the second title for the group this season, a twenty fifth profession victory for Shaw, and a primary ever ITF Tremendous Sequence win.
The British Columbia native has appeared sharp and dialled in together with his tennis for a lot of the season. Earlier in Australia, he reached the quarter-finals of the quad singles and simply final Fall gained silver on the Parapan American Video games in Santiago, Chile.
Shaw has already certified for the Paralympics this summer season in Paris, whereas different athletes are making their spring push in occasions to try to earn a spot on the prestigious occasion.
“It’s the pinnacle of our sport,” says Schrameyer. “At present all of our athletes are in a mad sprint to try to qualify.”
Across the Circuit
Shaw was not the one British Columbian in competitors this previous week, as 24-year-old Thomas Venos of New Westminster additionally took the courtroom in singles.
Venos suffered a good 6-0, 7-6(6) loss to eventual finalist Roland Nemeth of Hungary on the Cut up Open in Croatia. Venos will search for a bounce again efficiency this weekend on the Credit score Mutuel Open in France.
38-year-old veteran Mitch McIntyre, who ranks thirtieth on the earth within the Quad division, would be the prime seed on the Biel-Bienne Indoors in Switzerland.
Take a look at: Canadians in Motion at Dwelling
Elsewhere, Markham, Ontario’s Premier Racquet Membership is internet hosting its Wheelchair Basic this weekend, that includes a males’s, ladies’s and Quad division. An extended checklist of Canadians are set to compete:
· Natalie Lanucha
· Anne-Marie Dolinar
· Barry Henderson
· Shawn Courchesne
· John Chen
· Frederique Berube Peron
· Hisham Mohammad
· Lachlan Sandford
Path to the Paralympics
Shaw has formally certified for the Paralympic Video games in Paris and presently sits ninth general within the Quad rankings. In the meantime, Mitch McIntyre is ranked thirtieth general, and 18 locations again of qualification.
Natalia Lanucha continues her chase for a spot in Paris and is ranked forty third general within the ladies’s singles class (the highest 20 earn a spot).
