Abstract There is limited understanding about players perceptions and physical demands of wheelchair tennis grass play. This study conducted a quantitative pilot study exploring wheelchair configurations, court hardnesses, and potential court damage. Insights informed the primary qualitative investigation into player perceptions and best practice for wheelchair tennis on grass. Performance data were collected from six players during three tests using different configurations on grass, with hardness values between 197-233G max . Sixteen semi-structured interviews with players and support staff offered insights about wheelchair tennis grass play. Qualitative interview findings revealed two themes: navigating performance and de-mystifying wheelchair tennis. On-court findings indicated thicker castors and tyres resulted in reduced rolling resistances (− 8%) and improved rotational velocity (− 3%). This study contributed to understanding the physical demands of wheelchair tennis and de-stigmatising wheelchair tennis grass play. Support teams should include manufacturing expertise and pre-tournament wheelchair checks are recommended to prevent court damage without impacting performance.
Rietveld et al. (Mon,) studied this question.